Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 30: Terming restoration of peace in Jammu and Kashmir as the “biggest challenge” for the State, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti today appealed the people to maintain communal harmony.
“I want to say that maintain brotherhood because the biggest challenge faced by Jammu and Kashmir is how to restore peace. You will say that everything is fine here (Jammu) but in Kashmir there is firing and strikes,” she said after laying the foundation stone of a multi-tier parking lot here.
She said that her Government has been working hard to provide good governance and ensure there are no human rights violation.
“Here Hindu, Muslims have been living together for so many centuries but when some anti-social elements who exist in every community, try to divert us, we indulge in communal fights,” Mehbooba said.
Praising the secular nature of Jammu region, she said the city has given shelter to thousands of Kashmiri migrants.
“I need not remind you how secular the people of Jammu are. You gave shelter to thousands of Kashmiri Pandits and Muslims who left the Valley and settled here,” she said.
The Chief Minister said that she has a proposal to develop Suchetgarh International Border (IB) on the patterns of Wagah Border so that “people from across the country could come and view parade there”.
Underlining her late father and former CM Mufti Mohammad Sayeed’s vision to make Jammu an independent tourist destination, she said, “my father had a dream and he did not want Jammu to suffer the fate of Pathankot.
“He wanted Jammu to become an independent destination. He had a dream and a vision for Jammu and I assure you that his dream would be taken forward,” she said.
Addressing a large gathering, the Chief Minister said the present Government reflects the aspirations of people who want to see a new era of development unfold in the State. For this, she said she needs support of people in building infrastructure linked to road connectivity, health, education and jobs. “I need peace so that I am able to repeat what Mufti Mohammad Sayeed did with great success when he was the Chief Minister of the state between 2002-2005,” she added.
The Chief Minister said she saw herself dwarfed in comparison to her father, who worked passionately for bringing equitable development in all the three regions of the State. She said whatever new infrastructure is coming up is an outcome of 10 months of sustained perseverance during his final tenure.
Asking people to take real ownership of their cultural assets, Mehbooba said with smarter and out-of-box planning, Jammu can emerge as a blend of heritage and modernity. She asked people to partner Government’s efforts in creating more green spaces to add to city’s grandeur.
Fixing responsibility of ERA, the executing agency, to complete the car parking by March next year, the Chief Minister said laying of foundation stones should not be reduced to mere ceremonial exercises.
“I will monitor the pace of work personally and see that the projects are completed within the stipulated timelines,” she stressed.
Taking a rewind to her college days at Jammu, Mehbooba Mufti said she became nostalgic by coming to the old city today where she used to travel many a times from Raghunath Bazaar, Purani Mandi up to Kachi Chawni.
In his address, Deputy CM Dr Nirmal Singh credited late Mufti Mohammad Sayeed for giving a new direction to infrastructure development in the State. He said the Government will continue to work in mission mode to give practical shape to his dreams.
To be constructed at a cost of Rs 50.31 crore, the multi-level car parking facility will accommodate 352 vehicles and 164 two-wheelers in eight modules and is expected to be completed within the next 12 months.
The parking facility will greatly ease traffic congestion on busy sections near Kanak Mandi, Old Hospital Road and Raghunath Bazaar. This is the second big multi-tier parking project which has been launched in the winter capital after Jammu Bus Stand multi-tier car parking.
Also present on the occasion were DC Jammu, Simrandeep Singh and CEO ERA, Vinod Sharma.
Deputy Chief Minister, Dr. Nirmal K. Singh, Minister of State for H&UDD, H&ME and Social Welfare, Asiea Naqash, Minister of State for Culture, Tourism and Education, Priya Sethi and MLA Jammu East, Rajesh Gupta, were present on the occasion.
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