Avtar Bhat
HIRANAGAR, Dec 26: Taking a strong dig at Opposition for criticizing Prime Minister, Narendra Modi’s visit to Pakistan yesterday, Union Minister of State with Independent charge of North Eastern States, Dr Jitendra Singh today said that they (opposition) can’t digest the Prime Minster’s diplomatic move.
Addressing the public rallies at Rajpora in Samba district and Hiray Chak in Hiranagar area of Kathua district, he termed the PM’s move a master stroke and added that he (PM) wants that peace and brotherhood should prevail on borders so he visited Pakistan with message of love and peace on the birthday of former Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee yesterday as it was Mr Vajpayee who had sincerely initiated the peace process with Pakistan over 15 years back.
Maintaining that Modi is most concerned for welfare of borer people who have suffered a lot due to cross border firing, Dr Singh said that he wants that everlasting peace should prevail on borders to usher in a era of progress and prosperity and this was the main objective of his yesterday’s visit to Pakistan.
Lambasting opposition parties for trying to find a fault with PM’s visit to Pakistan, he said “when Government was not talking to Pak they were crying that it should talk. Earlier, they criticized the talks of National Security Advisors in Bangkok when India’s NSA met his Pak counterpart saying they should have not met in third country. Now again when Modi visited Pakistan they created a hue and cry opposing his visit saying he did not take nation into confidence’’, he added.
While referring to the demand of people living on International Border that they should be given the same benefits which the people living on LoC are entitled, Dr Singh said that there should be no discrimination with the people living on same border and he strongly advocated that this grave anomaly should be removed.
He urged the State Government to send a proposal to Union Government in this regard so that the people living on IB can be given the equal status with the people living on LoC. He also assured them that he will also take this issue with the concerned authorities in Union Government.
Dr Jitendra, while favouring that people of different areas of Jammu be given the benefit of Dogra certificates -a precedence created during the British rule and followed by Dogra rulers also, said there is precedence of recruiting the people of different regions in Army on the basis of their valor and courage.
While sharing the concern of the people at Rajpora who showed a grave resentment against the local MLA, Dr Singh said that public representatives should come up to the expectations of the people and fulfill the commitments they have made. He said the people have every right to seek clarifications from their representative whom they have voted as they have many expectations from them after the mob at Rajpora interrupted the local MLA during his speech and asked him to sit down.
The people while expressing their resentment against the MLA said that he did not visit the area to look into the people’s problems though he was elected with a very huge margin from this Assembly segment.
However, Dr Singh controlled the situation and pacified the agitating people saying that the voters have every right to express their grievances before their representative.
While highlighting various achievements during his tenure as Union Minister and MP, he said that the BSF has started construction of bunkers in border area for the refuge of people during border shelling which was a long standing issue of the people.
He said 80 kanals of land have also been identified at Hiranagar for shifting the border people there by allotting five marlas plot to each family. The file is with the Revenue authorities of State Government for last one year and urged the local MLA to pursue it.
Besides, the honorarium of VDCs and SPOs has been doubled in the State while the Jammu migrants were given relief at par with Kashmiri migrants which is also a major achievement. Regarding grant of compensation to border people, he said that this demand has been conceded by the Union Government and funds have been earmarked for the same in Rs 80,000 crore package given by Mr Modi to the State.
Dr Singh maintained that Prime Minister is for the welfare of the people of the State in general and those living in border belt in particular and he has made it clear that the coffers of his Government are open for the welfare of the people of the State.
Dr Singh, while highlighting the various welfare schemes launched by Prime Minster asked the Partymen and legislators to highlight them in public and take their full advantage. He said Ladli Beti, Jan Dan Yojna, Atal Pension Yojna and Mudra Yojna are such welfare schemes which can change the future of masses. “These schemes needed to be highlighted among the masses by the BJP legislators and Partymen so that they can take their best advantage’’, he added.
He announced additional tube well for Rajpora and urged the State Government authorities to take up construction of another tube well already announced by them in hand to solve the drinking water problem in the area.
Dr Singh, however regretted that the installation of transformers, proving drinking water facilities etc is the responsibility of State Government and it should discharge the same properly.
He said funds should not be a constraint after the announcement of Rs 80,000 crore package by Union government for the State.
Dr Singh announced a community hall and five tube wells for Hiray Chak in Kathua. On the demand of border people that the youth be recruited in para military forces and Army, Dr Singh said the Government has decided to open IRP battalions for the absorption of youth of the State.
MLA Hiranagar, Kuldeep Kumar, BJP senior leader, Th. Ranjit Singh, ex MLA, Durga Dass and BJP district president Kathua Advocate Vijay Sharma also addressed the public meetings.
The speakers also expressed grave concern over the water scarcity and power curtailment problems being faced by them and said that the transformers of irrigation department are lying defunct for months together in various villages with farming community put to problems. They also expressed concern over the bad condition of various roads in the area.
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