‘After removal of 370, peace established in J&K’
Fayaz Bukhari
SRINAGAR, June 23: Union Home Minister Amit Shah today reached out to Kashmiri youth saying that their future doesn’t lie in guns and stones but in the huge Indian and global market that awaits their talent.
Addressing the gathering after inaugurating several projects at Raj Bhawan Srinagar, the Minister said that those who handed over guns and stones to Kashmiri youth were never well-wishers of the young lot of Valley.
“Future of Kashmiri youth doesn’t lie in guns and stones. Pick up laptops and march ahead as there are huge opportunities waiting for you in big Indian and global markets. We are waiting for your talent. I urge the Kashmiri youth to be part of the change,” Shah said.
The Union Minister said Kashmir has changed a lot over the past few years. “School closures, strike calls and explosions have been controlled and there is an atmosphere of peace. Last year 1.88 crore tourists visited Kashmir,” he said, adding that last time when he visited Kashmir, many people complained to him that they couldn’t get taxis.
“I ensure that every person is entitled to get a taxi after proper security verification. There was a rule that only those whose fathers or grandfathers were owning taxis are entitled for new taxis but that is not the case now.”
While inaugurating and laying the foundation stone of several development projects worth more than Rs.500 crore, the Minister said.: “I visit Jammu and Kashmir after every 8 or 9 months. People come and meet me. But no one ever raised demand for amenities like schools, colleges, roads and water supply facilities. They never believed that they will receive them. But Prime Minister Narendra Modi made these facilities available to them because of his commitment to giving new life to the people of Jammu and Kashmir.”
“When I receive letters of appreciation from the poor my mind is filled with bliss. What a people-oriented governance means is seen by the people of Jammu and Kashmir in the last 5 years after a long period. This has happened under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” he said.
“Modi sends Rs.6,000 to 12.45 lakh farmers of Jammu and Kashmir every year. Prior to this no farmer ever received any funds from the Government. This money is his input cost. Today farmers need not take loans. In the last three years, the farmers of Jammu and Kashmir have received Rs.100 crore as crop insurance benefits. Prior to that they never received such benefits. Under the Jal Jeevan Mission, 11,96,000 water supply connections have been given. There were 13,80,000 families who did not have toilets in their homes even after 70 years of independence. In the last five years, this has been achieved. Similarly, 65,91,000 people receive 5 kilos of rice every month and 1.86 lakh people have received homes in villages and urban areas. They did not have any homes at all. Under the DBT scheme in the last 4 years, Rs. 23000 crore has been sent to the bank accounts of beneficiaries,” he said.
“Earlier too money came but the beneficiaries did not receive them. Many people have palatial mansions in foreign countries. How did they own them? What is their business? People should ask it. How did they spend 45 to 60 days on foreign vacations? This money which is now sent as DBT was earlier lost to corruption,” he said
He added that Dal lake is envisioned as a prime tourist location in India. Primarily a project worth Rs.85 crore has been allocated.
“Similarly, Tatto Ground will be constructed in such a way that every child in this country will be raring to come here,” he added.
“Srinagar Smart City Limited has begun multi-level parking, smart lighting, unified command and development of parks and many other such projects. Many degree colleges, nursing colleges, IIMs, IITs, and IIITs have also started,” he said.
Taking a jibe at National Conference vice president Omar Abdullah and PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti, Shah said due to the personal efforts of Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, the event became a grand success. “The change that took place in Kashmir over the past few years had to be showcased at global level and G-20 became the best platform,” he said
“I have seen a taunt-laced appeal from Abdullah where he said that India is the mother of democracy but it ends in Jammu and Kashmir. He is correct. But it happened during his father’s and grandfather’s rule. It is a matter of the past now. It was a time when democracy was held hostage by three families”, he said.
Shah said that they did not allow the elections of Panchayats to take place preventing people from becoming Panchs and Sarpanchs. “They did not allow the tehsil and district Panchayats to be formed. But now democracy has returned to Jammu and Kashmir where 35,000 elected representatives are now scripting the future of their villages, tehsils and districts by themselves. From them, tomorrow Jammu and Kashmir will find their MPs, MLAs and even national leaders. But some people do not like this change because they want to have control of politics,” he said.
The Home Minister said that PM Modi ensured that the culture of democracy percolate to the ground and thus fortified democracy. “This is possible when the heart is full of commitment to democracy,” he said.
The Home Minister while addressing Vitasta Mahotsav at SKICC said that river Jhelum is the witness to the highest level of human civilization and Vitasta is a festival to show the true Kashmir to the whole world.
“This is the same Vitasta which has been witness to many researches in Kashmir for thousands of years, this Jhelum has seen difficult times, the stream of Vitasta has also seen blood, attacks by fanatics, many regime changes and also witnessed the horrific scourge of terrorism,” he said.
“After the removal of Article 370 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, peace is established in J&K, new dimensions of development are being created, institutions of higher education are being built, industries are being set up and Panchayati Raj has been established,” he added.
“Only art, culture and history can unite the country and Vitasta Mahotsav is a unique event to unite India,” he said.
“The specialty of India is our culture of living together with everyone and this Vitasta Mahotsav is the ambassador of spreading this specialty of Kashmir to the whole of India and the world,” he said.
The Minister said that over 40,000 people were killed by terrorism in Kashmir a few years ago, the same Kashmir is moving forward today by assimilating arts through Vitasta Mahotsav.
“People who have seen the last 30 -40 years of history of Kashmir, find it a disputed and disturbed region, it is the nature of Kashmir to move forward like an immortal flame despite having many issues,” he said.
He added that hatred towards anyone has not been the history of Kashmir. “Kashmir has accepted everyone who comes. Like a playing, jumping and flowing river, the culture of Kashmir always moved ahead and never looked back,” he added.
“Unless we do not use our culture and art in the endeavour of connecting the country, we will not be able to use this unprecedented power of for the benefit of the country,” he said.
Shah said that PM Modi has decided to celebrate Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat as well as the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav and put three goals in front of everyone. “First, every child of the country should know about our freedom struggle and freedom fighters and the culture of patriotism should be awakened in them. Secondly, we should glorify the achievements made by the country in 75 years in the whole world. Third, on the basis of the achievements of these 75 years, take a resolution about where will India be in every field in 2047, the centenary year of independence,” he added.
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