Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, July 1: Union Minister of State in PMO with independent charge for Development of North East Region (DoNER), Dr Jitendra Singh disclosed here today that the provision of granting reservation in higher education and jobs to people living along International Border (IB) on the same pattern as available to the people living along Line of Control (LoC) are being worked out by the Government.
Speaking to media persons here after a meeting to review the status of various civil work projects undertaken by the Government of India through CPWD, Dr Jitendra Singh alleged that the denial of reservation to the people living along the International Border is a dubious legacy of the erstwhile Congress and UPA Governments, which had selectively issued orders reserving seats in higher education and jobs for people living along LoC, simply on the basis of vote bank considerations and had consciously discriminated against the border people living along the IB, as people living on this part of the border did not have any representation in the then State Government.
This, he said, amounts to the most inhuman discrimination wherein one section of people living along the Pakistan border are discriminated vis-a-vis another section of people living along the border, purely for electoral considerations.
Dr Jitendra Singh said, the BJP had taken up this issue even when it was in the opposition during the UPA rule, but the ruling parties at that time refused to respond. The issue was again taken up, he said, with the Modi Government and was accepted in principle, during the recent visit of Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh to Jammu on June 8.
Dr Jitendra Singh informed that the Union Home Ministry has asked the State Government to provide the details about the reservation provision available to the people living along the LoC so that the same could be worked out for the people along the IB as well. He said, he is constantly following up the matter with the State Government as well as the Union Home Ministry, and looked forward to discuss the same also with the Advisor in-charge Home Affairs, Vijay Kumar.
Taking a strong dig at opposition parties for criticizing the demonetization and implementation of GST by Narendra Modi Government in the country, Dr Jitendra Singh said the GST has brought a behavioral change among the people of the country from tax evader mindset to tax payer mindset.
Hailing the GST decision of the Modi Government, he said advance Income Tax deposit was up by 44 percent post GST in first quarter of 2018 and Corporate Tax was up by 17 percent in the same period. He said hence what opposition says is not relevant and their statements are outcome of their desperation.
Dr Jitendra Singh said that Government has taken preemptive measures to meet any eventuality caused by flash floods in J&K State. The State administration is fully geared up in this regard, he added. In view of the warning that heavy rains may lash Kashmir valley tomorrow, he said the Government is fully prepared to meet with any threat.
Dr Jitendra Singh said that flood situation in North East is under control now and NDRF has done a tremendous job there in rescuing people.
Meanwhile, during the appraisal meeting with CPWD, the Minister was informed that the fencing along with Indo-Pakistan border is almost complete, barring one or two small gaps, which got left out incomplete because of the cross-border firing in recent weeks. However, the same will also be accomplished very soon, he added while quoting the CPWD Chief Engineer,.
The Minister was also informed by CE CPWD, North Zone V, Anant Kumar that out of 33 km long patrolling road Project along IB right from Lakhanpur in Kathua district, work on 30 kms has been completed. He was apprised that the Border Out Posts (BOPs) have been constructed with upgradation in design.
The Minister was also informed that anti flood measures have been taken by CPWD with construction of crates and bunds along the rivers in border areas besides constructing culverts and bridges in Jammu Frontier area.
The Minister also reviewed the progress on the construction of two AIIMS in the State and stressed on removal of bottlenecks whatsoever are in the way. He also stressed on removal of encroachments from the proposed land for AIIMS at Vijaypur so that the construction of same is not further delayed.
Dr Jitendra Singh urged the CPWD authorities to take up the encroachment issue with Commissioner Secretary, Works J&K Government and Divisional Commissioner Jammu. The officers said that the slow progress on construction of culverts and bridges was due to firing from across the border.
He also reviewed the construction of IIT Jammu and IIM Jammu as well as various KVs with authorities of CPWD and gave a pat to the Department officers and officials for constructing a grand building of KV at Janglote in Kathua district which appears like a corporate school.
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