‘DoPT order only for abolition of interviews’
Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, Feb 5: Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh today asserted that India is much more responsive both as a nation as well as a State to give befitting reply to all machinations of Pakistan and made it clear that “our hostile neighbor” can’t intimidate India by ‘new experimentation’ being done by preparing toolkits to garner support across the globe.
“There is nothing to feel perturbed about it (Pakistan observing Kashmir solidarity day). We are well equipped (to face any challenge),” Dr Jitendra Singh told reporters at a press conference at party headquarters here, today along with BJP J&K UT president, Ravinder Raina, former Minister, Priya Sethi and party spokesperson, Abhinav Sharma.
Dr Jitendra Singh in this regard made a reference to Joint Parliamentary resolution passed in 1994 stating that if there is any pending issue between the two countries it is that part of Jammu and Kashmir which continues to be under illegal occupation of Pakistan for last 75 years and India is committed to its retrieving from the clutches of Pakistan. This is not the only BJP or Dr Jitendra Singh saying but there is joint Parliament resolution meaning entire nation stands by it”, he added.
He was responding to a question about ‘Kashmir solidarity day’ being observed in Pakistan on February 5 since 1990 and the toolkits dispatched by Islamabad this year to different embassies across the globe to garner support for its Kashmir policy.
Click here to watch video
“Right from the midnight of partition in 1947, Pakistan could not reconcile with the fact that Jammu and Kashmir is a part of India and therefore they are trying all tricks in their book. They tried three wars, trying infiltration and thousand wounds theory by causing insurgency”, he added.
“Now they are using modern toolkits and the available new technology. But India is much more responsive and dynamic both as a nation and a State, not to be intimidated by all these new experiments being done by our hostile neighbor,” Dr Jitendra Singh said.
On National Conference (NC) rejecting the second draft proposal of the Delimitation Commission which has suggested the creation of new constituencies and redrawing of others in Jammu and Kashmir, Dr Jitendra Singh said anybody who questions the working of the Delimitation Commission have other motives.
“These parties either have not studied enough the parameters which guide its working or they have some other motives”, the Union Minister added.
“I am not here to react to what somebody has said. As far as BJP is concerned, we trust the legitimacy and the integrity of the Delimitation Commission which is constituted by the Chief Election Commission of India which is a Constitutional body. They follow certain norms and certain parameters which are already laid down. There cannot be any deviation,” he said.
He said “We believe that if a body is working as per its mandate, it is the responsibility of all workers and leaders not to interfere (in its working).”
In response to a question regarding withdrawal of posts referred to PSC and SSB by General Administrative Department (GAD) prior to October 31,2019, Dr Jitendra Singh said that there is no direction from DoPT to the UT Government in this regard. He said the only directives given by the DoPT were abolition of interviews and selection of candidates on the basis of merit secured by them in written tests. The Minister said he, however, has no knowledge about the order and UT Government could respond to it.
He said there were complaints that the candidates getting cent percent marks in written tests were dropped during interviews and this was the reason for abolition of interviews.
He said even the directives were given for conducting skill tests for drivers and other technical posts as well as physical tests for the candidates applying for security forces and police to ascertain whether they are fit for those posts or not but main thrust has been given on merit secured by them in written tests.
Asked about the Hijab controversy generated by media reports about a college in Karnataka denying entry to Muslim girl students who were wearing the head scarves, the Minister said some people are not comfortable with the kind of progress the country is making under Prime Minister Narendra Modi and are trying to derail his mission.
“Under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, the education system has actually been given a new life. The education policy is a futuristic document which is going to place India at the top by a long jump (from the present position). Some people are not comfortable with the kind of progress the country is making under Modi and they are trying to mix up religion, communalism and even some hate elements are out to malign and derail the mission undertaken by Modi. They cannot call themselves as friends of India,” he added.
Asked about the strong reaction from former Chief Ministers, Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti to the incident, he said “It is better to concentrate on the new education policy and its implementation that will be much more beneficial, ” he added.
Dr Jitendra Singh said there are abundant job opportunities available for the youth as India’s futuristic budget was aimed at making country the global leader under the leadership of Prime Minister, Narendra Modi.
He said consistency, conviction and courage are the defining factors of the successive budgets of the BJP-led Government.
“As far as job creation is concerned, there are abundant opportunities in this budget…the capital expenditure (CAPEX) was increased from Rs 5.5 lakh crore to Rs 7.2 lakh crore (in the budget 2022-23), that means 40 percent will go to job creation,” Dr Jitendra Singh said.
He said job does not necessarily mean Government jobs as the Government’s focus remained on Startups and Science and Technology to provide an opportunity with Rs 3 lakh crore for job creation.
The Union Minister said India has become the fourth country in the world to light up its skies with 1000 drones which would be linked to industry in future.
He said this was the 10th budget of Modi-led Government and if you look at all these budgets, you will find three ‘Cs’ – consistency, conviction and courage in the approach of the Government which are the defining factors of the budget.
“These successive budgets under Modi have led India forward towards assuming a global role. The world is saying that it is India’s decade (2021-30)… by 2047, India would have assumed the frontline role,” he said, adding “the futuristic budget presented by the Government has two important aspects, one linked to Science and Technology and the second to tap the unexplored potential.”
He said whether it is farming sector, chemical free farming, drone power, startups and development of 25,000 kms road infrastructure every sector will get push in the budget.
“India is the only country in the world which has an ocean named after it (Indian Ocean). Those who have named it in India know how much treasure is hidden there. We started a mission to explore it while the space mission was also unlocked after Modi removed the taboos,” the Minister said, adding there has been a total focus on farming, agriculture and dairy sector.
“After the (outbreak of) COVID-19, Modi emerged as the tallest leader in the world which is looking towards the country. The world is ready to be led by India but the question is whether we are ready for that. This is the budget which will prepare India for the role to make the country world leader (Vishaw Guru) under the leadership of Modi,” the Minister said.
The Minister said Mantalai resort in Udhampur is ready to welcome visitors with a State of Art Wellness Centre and Helipad.
“Tourism in the Jammu region continues to be the focus of the Government. Boating has already started at Mansar lake and several other tourism projects including wildlife sanctuary are coming up shortly,” he said, adding the completion of the projects will give a big boost to tourism in these areas.
Surrounded by Deodar trees and lush green forests, an International Yoga Centre is coming up over sprawling 125 acre at Mantalai at an estimated cost of Rs 86.27 crore, as part of the ‘integrated development of tourist facilities’ project at Mantalai-Sudhmahadev-Patnitop circuit.
The work on the project had commenced in 2017 and the facilities like swimming pool, airstrips, spa, helipads, gymnasium, auditorium, hostels and business convention centre are coming up at the Centre besides the project also included cafeteria at Sudhmahadev and Patnitop.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
