‘Bhaderwah gave world Lavender, purple revolution’
Avtar Bhat
DODA, Mar 9: Accusing earlier Governments of neglecting entire region of erstwhile Doda district and creating a social strife by playing divisive politics, Union Minister in PMO with independent charge of Science and Technology, Dr Jitendra Singh today said the situation totally changed in this entire belt after 2014 as Government led by Prime Minister, Narendra Modi ensured equitable development and communal harmony everywhere with focus on remote and far-flung areas.
While addressing a massive public rally after inaugurating the Agri StartUp Exhibition here, today Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh said due to the divisive and vote bank politics pursued by earlier Governments, the erstwhile Doda district was marred by communal riots and worst kind of riots took place in 2013.
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The rally was attended by thousands of people who had turned up from all parts of the twin districts of Kishtwar and Doda including Bhaderwah.
Dr Jitendra Singh said taking serious view of the working of J&K Government in 2013 the then All India president BJP, Rajnath Singh deputed a high level national team of party to Kishtwar to assess the situation there.
The Union Minister said instead of focusing on development and welfare of people the earlier Governments in J&K and Delhi indulged in vote bank politics and divided people on communal lines. In comparison to that the BJP Government worked on the Modi Mantra Sabka Saath, Sabka, Vikas and Sabka Vishwas. “It was the result of BJP’s policy of justice to all and appeasement to none that while our Government sanctioned a Degree College for Kastigarh in Doda we sanctioned another Degree College for Marmat in the same district also”, he added.
Dr Jitendra Singh said analysts will find it difficult to answer as to why Doda remained backward despite the fact that after independence, there was not a single occasion when Doda did not have its representative both in the Union Cabinet as well as in the erstwhile State Cabinet.
District Doda, said Dr Jitendra Singh, has today emerged on the world map because Bhaderwah has given the world Lavender and purple revolution which were exhibited in the Republic Day Parade at New Delhi and PM Narendra Modi spoke in detail about it in ” Mann Ki Baat”.
Dr Jitendra Singh said, under Modi he has also sought to follow a different political culture of reaching out equally to all sections of people regardless of religion or caste. He said the people of Doda belt are traditionally peace loving and patriotic, and they had refused to migrate out even during the peak of militancy.
New National Highway 244 from Khellani to Sudhmahadev touching Goha Kalota, approval of Chattergala tunnel and Kaljugar tunnel, series of hydropower projects and airport under Udaan in Kishtwar, Centrally funded Medical College in Doda, High Altitude Medicine Plant in Bhaderwah, etc all happened in last 10 years, he said.
Dr. Jitendra Singh said, a large number of projects brought to the Doda region in the last 10 years have not only brought about transformation but were also meant to change the mindset. Various welfare schemes launched not only meant social and economic transformation but also aroused several semi-conscious aspirations, particularly in youth, which got buried due to dismay and pessimism of the past.
Dr Jitendra Singh said all the works have been carried out with an urge to serve the general public from the core of the heart and to provide the benefits rising above the politics of caste, creed and religion. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has sought to create a new work culture in politics which our successors will be bound to follow, he said.
Dr Jitendra Singh underlined that road connectivity, power supply and medical facilities have been improved in Doda in the last 10 years. “A web of highways has been spun in the district, with the largest number of roads constructed under PMGSY here”, the Minister said.
He stated that this constituency holds distinction as being the lone Lok Sabha constituency where there are three Medical Colleges, namely Doda, Kathua and Udhampur.
The Union Minister expressed happiness that Modi has been able to change the work culture and perception about democracy by undertaking all round development and ensuring delivery of schemes as and where needed. He said the Government has reignited those hopes which had faded, and rekindled aspirations among youth who had resigned to their fate due to the prevailing work environment.
On the occasion, Dr Jitendra Singh also felicitated a few young farmers who have emerged as role models by increasing their produce by availing the benefits of various Modi schemes.
The function was organized by CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (IIIM), Jammu which also celebrated the success of Lavender cultivation, “Purple Revolution” with farmers. Dr. Jitendra Singh, who is also vice president, CSIR was the chief guest of the programme. Dhanater Singh Kotwal, DDC Chairman Doda, Dr. Zabeer Ahmed, Director, CSIR-IIIM, Harvinder Singh, Deputy Commissioner, Doda and Sangeeta Rani Bhagat, Vice Chairperson, DDC Doda were also present in the function.
The purpose of the event was to acknowledge and promote sustainable agriculture, particularly in the context of ‘Lavender cultivation’. The occasion highlighted the positive impact of Lavender cultivation on the local economy and agricultural landscape, symbolizing a significant step forward for farmers in Doda and nearby regions.
Dr. Zabeer Ahmed, earlier during his welcome address, highlighted the significant research contributions of CSIR-IIIM in the fields of Cancer medicines, Diabetes mellitus, Rheumatoid Arthritis and addressing liver ailments, along with research on various diseases. He also talked about two major societal initiatives, namely the “CSIR Aroma Mission” and “CSIR Floriculture Mission”, both operating under the mentorship of Dr. Jitendra Singh.
The rally was addressed by former Minister Shakti Raj Parihar, ex-MLA, Dilip Parihar, BJP president Doda Vijay Mohan Thakur and Party President Kishtwar, Chuni Lal.
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