‘Over 48,000 return to J&K by road’
Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, May 10: Maintaining that restoration of Pak occupied Kashmir (PoK), Gilgit and Baltistan are the national agenda, Union Minister in PMO incharge North Eastern States, Dr Jitendra Singh today said there is a joint Parliament resolution passed during the Congress Government in 1994 in this regard.
Dr Jitendra Singh while talking to this reporter on phone said that it is not only he or his party which stands for restoration of PoK, Gilgit and Baltistan but the entire nation and there is a joint Parliament resolution passed in this regard in 1994 during Congress rule when P V Narsimha Rao was Prime Minister.
The Union Minister said “We are for the restoration of entire J&K which Maharaja had handed-over to India while signing the instrument of Accession and which is under the forcible occupation of Pakistan. “There is Parliament resolution that PoK be made part of India”, he added.
He said “Muzafarabad and Kotla is our agenda and there are no two thoughts in it that we want to restore J&K in same way as it was handed over by Maharaja to India”.
Hitting out at Pakistan, Dr Jitendra Singh said that it even showed insensitivity when the entire world was fighting the Coronavirus pandemic by instigating terrorist violence in Kashmir. But the people of Valley have seen through its game plan and after August 5 and 6 last year there is sea change in Valley and many new things took place. “There were no takers to those who came with threats that streams of flood will flow in Kashmir and there would be no one to carry national flag. The myth created by some vested political leaders that it was totally impossible as no one can touch the specials status has now been exploded and people especially youth of Kashmir have realized the game plan of these leaders”, he added.
He said the youth of Valley understood that they have been bluffed by selfish leaders and they don’t want to miss the opportunity available to youth of the rest of country under the Narendra Modi Government at a time when the entire world has become a global village.
In response to question that unlike the killing of dreaded militant Burhan Wani in 2016 there was no violence in Kashmir after the elimination of Riyaz Naikoo some days back, Dr Jitendra Singh said that it has been a peaceful festival season in Kashmir after August 5 and 6 last year. The national festivals as well as religious festivals passed peacefully during this year and there was no violence reported from any where on national festivals like Independence Day, Republic Day or religious festivals like Eid or Diwali, while earlier every year there has been violence on these festivals, he added.
Dr Jitendra Singh, however, gave credit to security forces also for this and said that their control on the ground situation has been strengthened and youth have also realised that they have been misled over the years by some leaders for their vested interests. “The Kashmir is no issue and we have made it an issue. It is as integral part of India as Punjab, Andhara Pradesh and other states”, he added.
He also rubbished the reports that the pension and DA of employees will be cut and asked: “Will Narendra Modi Government which is wedded to welfare of people take such a decision”? On the media reports regarding decreasing retirement age from 60 years to 55 years, Dr Jitendra Singh said “I don’t know where from such reports come that pension will be decreased by 30 percent and retirement age will be reduced to 55. It is not only the fake report but manufactured news”.
Maintaining that nation has learnt to live with lockdown after spread of Coronavirus, Dr Jitendra Singh said Prime Minister showed us to live with discipline in lockdown which was necessary. “The lockdown should be a way to make ourselves disciplined but there should be no fear psychosis”, he added.
He said with the spread of dreaded Coronavirus there has been an increased opportunity for developing the health sector on which prior to taking over by Modi Government only two percent was spent. But now proper attention will be paid to this sector and a good share will be invested in Health Sector including sanitation which will not only boost the economy but also improve the health facilities in the country, he added.
Meanwhile, in a short brief to the media, Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh disclosed here today that as many as over 48,000 people have returned to Jammu & Kashmir by road alone through Lakhanpur entry point in district Kathua, in addition to those coming by train or air route, which may take the total number to over 50,000 or more, and the frequency will increase in next few days, because now all the modes of transport have been fully geared up.
He said, as of now, the return of those coming back to the Union Territory is being facilitated by road, by train and by air, depending upon the point from where the journey takes off and the destination. At the same time, the return of those held up in the foreign countries has also begun, he added.
Dr Jitendra Singh appealed to all those from Jammu & Kashmir who are held up in different parts of the country to have patience and assured that everybody will be back home, since the process of movement has started and it is only a matter of time. The urge to reach home is quite natural and understandable, but it is an unusual situation as all of us know, he said.
Allaying all misgivings or misinformation that there was any favoritism or pick-and-choose in bringing back those who were held up outside J&K, Dr Jitendra Singh said, clear criteria is being followed by all concerned, as per which, the labourers or migrant workers in hardpressed situation or the students in distress are being given priority. As far as the sick or emergency cases are concerned, he said, they were earlier also given special passes to travel.
“We have to learn to make a distinction between movement by necessity and movement by choice”, said Dr Jitendra Singh, and disclosed that even some of his personal friends,colleagues and their families who were held up before the lockdown and were now keen to get back to Jammu & Kashmir, have also been politely requested to stay back for a while. This, he said, is a small gesture of giving up our convenience for the sustenance of a fellow human being who is in greater need than us.
Dr Jitendra Singh said, the administration is under tremendous pressure to facilitate the travel on different routes, while at the same time following the guidelines of social distancing etc. in order to avoid risk to others. He appreciated the cooperation rendered by the passengers and public, and hoped that it will continue in the days to come as well.
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