Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, Aug 26: Asserting that India is witnessing the emergence of grass root democracy under the leadership of Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, Union Minister of State in PMO with independent charge of North Eastern States, Dr Jitendra Singh today said with coming of NDA to power at Centre in May 2014, the Indian democracy was liberated from past baggage.
Addressing two programmes at Kala Kendra here this morning and at SKUAST, R S Pura in the afternoon organized by Housing and Urban Development Corporation and Krishi Vigyan Kendra of SKUAST respectively, Dr Jitendra Singh said that NDA Government at Centre is committed to fulfill the dream of former Jana Sangh president Lt. Deen Dayal Upadayay to take democracy to grass root level so that the last man in the last queue can reap its fruits.
The functions were held in connection with New India Movement launched by Prime Minister, Narendra Modi to free India from the clutches of poverty, corruption, terrorism, casteism, communalism and other evils by 2022 on the same pattern as Mahatma Gandhi had given Quit India call in 1942 which culminated in liberation of India on August 15, 1947.
The Union Minister said “a beginning has already been made in this regard with the election of a poor and humble man, Ram Nath Kovind who lived in a mud house as the President of India while another humble man and son of a farmer Venkaiah Naidu as Vice President. Every one is familiar about the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi who too comes from a poor back ground”, he added.
Dr Jitendra Singh said that freedom is totally incomplete until our mind and society feels free.
Without naming Congress or National Conference (NC), Dr Jitendra Singh said “we got freedom from British in 1947 but this was only a freedom for power struggle as from Britshers the power was transferred to a particular dynasty”.
“But in the Narendra Modi era the total concept of democracy and freedom has now changed as a poor of the poorest can dream of becoming President and Prime Minister of this country which was not possible in previous rule”, he added.
He said Indian democracy got a new direction after change of guard at Delhi in 2014 and a new hope has emerged in the entire country. “World was looking towards us whether it was a hope or hype only but this Government has worked in last three years with dedication and has shown results”, he added.
Referring to J&K, Dr Jitendra Singh said that J&K and North Eastern States are on top priority of Modi Government for overall development of the country. The situation has changed to such an extent that now the common man of this country identifies himself with the present Government, he added.
He said “this is the era of real time reporting and the Government is answerable to people as it is not the time of liars now”. Dr Jitendra Singh, while highlighting the role of youth in changing times, said over 65 percent population of India is young and they are honest and dedicated people. This Government has the capacity to trust its youth, he added.
Without naming him, the Union Minister also took a potshot at former Chief Minister and senior NC leader Omar Abdullah who demanded resignation of Haryana Chief Minister, Manohar Lal Khattar and said that there should be no politicking on the issue and instead every one should contribute in restoration of peace in the State. He asked: “did Omar Abdullah applied this formula to himself when he was the Chief Minister of J&K and State had witnessed a lot of violence.”?
On the recent statement of a NCC girl cadet from Kashmir that Kashmiris enjoy total freedom under India and she had appealed the people to shun violence and not take part in stone pelting, Dr Jitendra Singh said that he has been saying this repeatedly that the youth of Kashmir have now come openly against the separatists and they will no longer be intimidated by certain quarters. They have awaken now and can’t be misled by any body and there is a tremendous change in the situation, he added.
Dr Jitendra Singh said “I have been asking the Kashmiri youth to put questions to these separatists that which model of the so called freedom movement they have adopted”. I told Kashmiri youth to ask them (separatists) who handed over guns to you and whether their own children had taken to arms. If they are adopting the model of sacrifices then they should take a cue from Guru Gobind Singh Ji Maharaj who sacrificed his own children first for a great cause”.
He said Kashmir youth have awaken now and they want to become part of new developmental programme launched by Prime Minister.
While referring to New India Movement launched by PM, Dr Jitendra Singh said one of the programmes started by this Government is to double the income of farmers by 2022. He said “it is not the question whether we do it or not but the question is why no thought was given towards the farmers in last 70 years” . This is the only Government which is linked to ground and is sensitive to farmers issues, he added.
Terming the Shahpur Kandi agreement a historic decision after independence in J&K, Dr Jitendra Singh said that Kandi will no longer be called Kandi after the project is constructed. He said both States of J&K and Punjab will increase their irrigation and power potential with construction of this project.
He also appealed to the farmers to take advantage of new and latest technology and said that agriculture has now to be run on the pattern of industry in this global world. The village can only progress when farmers are prosperous, he added.
He said under Narendra Modi rule many incentives are available to farmers especially the young farmers and they can do the farming through internet and by sitting on computer at their home.
Earlier speaking at HUDCO function in Kala Kendra, Dr Jitendra Singh said that BJP has an emotional attachment with J&K as the Party has given the greatest sacrifice in the shape of Dr Shyama Prasad Mookherjee on the soil of the State for its total integration with India.
He said under Modi Government such a democratic system has been adopted that every political party is now bound to adopt it.
Terming the youth a great potential and power in the country, he said the youth will be a game changer now as in 2018 the number of new voters in the country will be 28 core.
Maintaining that India is ahead of all in space technology, Dr Jitendra Singh said through Mangaliyan, NASA takes the pictures and Indian Scientists gave the concept that life can exist on Moon as water is there. This showed that India is progressing day by day in all spheres, he added.
At Kala Kendra, the welcome address was made by Secretary Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs Government of India, Rajiv Yadav.
In his address, Speaker Assembly Kavinder Gupta said that India was free before 70 years too. The Indians were never slaves of any one. This nation has guided and showed path to entire world as it was once the Vishaw Guru and under the leadership of Narendra Modi we will again emerge as world leader, he added.
BJP president and MLA, Sat Sharma said Sankalap to Sidhi is India’s resolve and commitment towards New India. He said Prime Minister is very much concerned for welfare and development of J&K and this is the reason that after inaugurating first programme at Varanasi in UP yesterday, he gave second preference to J&K where the programme was held today. He said in next five years we have to work hard to realize the dream of Prime Minister.
MLA Jammu East and chief whip BJP in Assembly Rajesh Gupta, said in 1942 Gandhi Ji gave call of Quit India and India attained freedom in next five years. On the same pattern the Prime Minister has given call to free country from various evils to lay foundation of a strong and New India by 2022, he added.
MD, HUDCO Jasbir Singh and BJP general secretary Harinder Gupta were also on dais on the occasion.
At SKUAST among others V C, SKUAST Pardeep Kumar Sharma also addressed the gathering. The welcome address was made by Dr R K Arora while Dr Pawan Sharma also spoke on the occasion. BJP general secretary Dr Narinder Singh was also present on the occasion. An oath ceremony was also held and Dr Jitendra Singh administered oath to the gathering on the occasion.
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