*PoK people will soon want to become part of India: Malik
370 was greatest HR violation: Dr Jitendra
Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, Sept 14: Dubbing militants in Kashmir as “Pak-purchased boys”, Governor Satya Pal Malik on Wednesday had warned them that they “will soon get killed” if they do not “mend their ways” and stop threatening apple growers against selling their produce outside the Valley.
“Some Pakistan-purchased boys are roaming around (in the Valley) and threatening to kill orchardists to stop them from selling their fruit to outside markets,” said Malik, addressing a gathering after laying foundation for State Cancer Institute here.
“I am telling them to mend their ways as I don’t know whether the fruit dealers will die or not but there is a guarantee you will soon get killed,” said Malik in a stern warning to terrorists.
The gubernatorial warning came barely two days after he launched the market intervention scheme, aimed at securing optimum prices to apple growers at a time when normal life continue to remain paralysed in the Valley since the Centre decided on August 5 to revoke the State’s special status from October 31.
Talking of the irreversibility of the Centre’s decision to nullify Art 370 and revoke the J&K’s special status, Malik said, “the wheels of history does not go backwards.”
Describing the developments as an “opportunity” for the State, he said, “the Centre has opened its treasures for the overall development of J&K”.
Taking a dig at Pakistan premier Imran Khan for asking Pakistan-occupied Kashmir people to wait for his signal to march towards the LoC, Malik said the PoK residents will soon want to become part of India.
“We know nobody is going to come here at his (Khan’s) instance. But, if we are able to take Jammu and Kashmir to the path of development, which is very much possible, the day is not far when the PoK residents, facing worst situation under the occupation of Pakistan, will race towards us on their own to be part of India,” said Malik.
Malik also said after construction of Shahpurkandi dam, India will make Pakistan see reasons just by reducing the Ravi waters flow to them.
“After the completion of the project, we will be in a position to threaten Pakistan just by stopping the inflow of water,” he said, referring to the agreement signed between J&K and Punjab for resuming work on Shahpurkandi dam project that would help reduce the quantum of India’s share of Ravi waters flowing into Pakistan.
Referring to quick signing of the agreement on resumption of work which has been hanging fire for the last 40 years, Malik said, “We did it in just 20 minutes.”
Those in power in the State were sympathetic to Pakistan and did not allow an agreement to reach out between the two states, he added.
The Governor, who also e-inaugurated 196 health and wellness centres in the State and released a policy document on roadmap to reducing infant mortality rate to single- digit figure by 2022, said the apples earlier used to sell at Rs three a kilogram but following the market intervention schemes, the fruit is now being sold at Rs 15 a kg.
The scheme has been approved by the Department of Agriculture and Cooperation, under the Union Ministry of Agriculture for the current apple harvesting season.
Making an appeal to people to take “full advantage” of the opportunity provided by the BJP-led NDA Government, he said, “Only a man with bad luck can miss this opportunity.”
He said the Centre’s sincerity can be assessed from the fact that Union Home Minister Amit Shah is sitting today with sarpanches of Jammu and Kashmir and asking them what they want.
“Even veteran politicians stop breathing before him (Shah). And he is sitting with sarpanches from Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.
Asking people to put pressure on their elected representatives, including Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh to ensure that their work is done, then Governor said over a dozen officials of various Union Ministries have already visited Srinagar and Jammu and many more including those from Power Ministry are coming here in next three days.
“We have resolved to ensure round-the-clock power supply to the consumers in Jammu and Srinagar,” he said.
The Governor expressed satisfaction with the work done by him as State Governor.
“A notion in the country is that the Governor’s job is to just relax, play golf and fulfil your wishes. I have done so much work in the past one year that even an elected Government could not do,” he said.
“When I was assigned the governor’s job, Prime Minister Narendra Modi told me to do whatever I can to make Jammu and Kashmir shine. I am here for the time being and my doors are also open,” he said, indicating his accessibility and willingness to serve people.
Addressing the two separate functions at Kathua and Jammu today in connection with foundation of laying of 200 bedded Hospital for Medical College, Kathua, inauguration of Kathua Medical College, laying foundation of 100 bedded Cancer Institute at Jammu, e-launch of 196 health wellness centers and releasing of roadmap for reduction of infant mortality rate in the State, Malik said “in the eyes of the people of country, Governor is a person who plays golf and does nothing for public. He/she rests during their Governorship but the amount of work we have done in last one year , I don’t think even an elected Government can do that much work”, he added.
He said during this period he worked for the welfare of the public and development of the State to put it back on rails.
Maintaining that there will be no compromise on corruption and corrupt elements in the administration, Satya Pal Malik said that yesterday he ordered probe by Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) in the much publicized Roshni scam. He warned that the big fish involved in the scam can’t be spared.
He said, however, the dedicated and honest officers will be given all encouragement by the Government. In this regard he referred to State Administrative Council’s (SAC’s) decision taken yesterday in which 200 posts of DySPs were cleared for promotion.
He said he got reports that a DySP who was working at Airport got injured in firing and despite waiting for long time his file was not cleared for promotion. There were 200 such cases of DySPs pending for promotion and in the one go the SAC issued orders for their promotion. Besides instructions were given that rules be framed for future in this regard so that no one is harassed for his promotion to next higher post in future.
The Governor said eight medical colleges have been given to the State by Union Government and it is a great achievement. He said among them construction has been completed on Medical Colleges of Kathua, Doda, Rajouri, Baramulla and Anantnag and while the work will be soon started on the newly sanctioned medical colleges of Udhampur and Handwara the sanction for the new Medical College for Leh in Ladakh region will also be accorded soon by Government of India and Principal Secretary Health and Medical Education, Atul Duloo has been asked to send a letter to Centre in this regard next week.
He said with the construction of eight Medical Colleges in State and two AIIMS, J&K will advance in Health Sector. The Governor said that Union Government led by Narendra Modi is liberal in helping J&K for its development and it is up to the people of the State how they can put their demand before the Centre as they are ready to give any thing the people demand for the development and prosperity of J&K.
The Governor said that he respects doctors as he sees God in them. “We have not seen God but doctors are there to treat the ailing humanity, so I respect doctors as well as nurses a lot. However, he hastened to say that there are some reports that the doctors sometimes deliberately tamper with testing machines to force the patients to get tests conducted outside. “In case you have any such complaint you should report me immediately to take action against the erring doctors as there should be no problem in treatment to patients”, he said.
Addressing the functions Union Minister of State, in PMO, with independent charge of North Eastern States, Dr Jitendra Singh said that one of the greatest advantage of the abrogation of Article 370 to the J&K is that the faculty from outside will come to serve here as unlike past they will be free to get education for their wards and also settle here after retirement.
He said one of the greatest disadvantages of the Article 370 was that no faculty came here over the years and this was the greatest human rights violation of the sick and needy. Dr Jitendra Singh said he is the happiest person that first function was held here after the liberated environment in the State.
He said with the annulling of Article 370, the people of J&K got a chance to have faculty form outside. “I will not hesitate in saying that there was no Oncologist in Jammu because of 370 as no outsider liked to come here as they can’t educate their children here and get jobs later.” , he added.
“It was a paradox that they could go any where in the country and serve except J&K”, he said, adding but with the new arrangement they will get a chance to serve in the J&K.
“Had former Finance Minister, Arun Jaitley been alive this time, he would have been happiest person after hearing the news that outside faculty will come to Jammu as he was always perturbed for the problems being faced by patients of J&K in going outside the State for treatment as they could not get the proper treatment in their own State due to lack of faculty”, he added.
Dr Jitendra Singh said three generations of his party struggled for the redemption of sins committed by past rulers. He said J&K is the only State which got two AIIMS when the people in Jammu protested after AIIMS was given to Kashmir valley and he went to then Health Minister, J P Nadda demanding another AIIMs for Jammu. He (Nadda) said that there is no provision to sanction two AIIMS for one State. But when he took up the issue with Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, he said that he knows that people of Jammu will not agree and hence sanctioned another AIIMS for Jammu.
He said the foundation stone of these institutions was earlier laid thrice but it was confined to foundation only as no construction work was done as every one knows that these institutes will not function without faculty.
Dr Jitendra Singh said that the greatest challenge faced by the Government institutions is that the students prefer to take admission in private institutions as there are chances of campus selection. He said to maintain their credibility there should be no compromise on faculty. Besides, the aptitude should also not be compromised and the institutions should achieve their identity.
He said there should be reputed faculty and high quality of research in these institutions and emphasis should be given on clinical training and the candidates who seek admission there should become doctors and not medical trainees.
He said in Kathua-Doda region there are now three Medical Colleges. He said in entire country his Parliamentary Constituency is only area where up to far off places like Padder engineering colleges have been established.
He said corporate sector has dominated engineering sector and now it has spread its tentacles over Medical Sector also “so we have to be cautious about it”. So The Government institutions have to be up to mark and create an impression as Khadakpur is known by IIT Khadakpur.
Speaker State Assembly, Dr Nirmal Singh in his address at Kathua said that with the inauguration of Medical College at Kathua and laying of foundation of 200 bedded hospital in the town a dream has come true. Giving full credit to Narendra Modi Government for the same, he said PM fixed a goal for laying of foundation of new projects and side by side inauguration of these projects.
He said it is a good beginning but there were no doctors in remote areas and thrust should for be given posting of doctors in far off areas. He said 500 doctors were selected but only 150 joined and how common man can be provided medical facilities under these circumstances. This is a big challenge, he added.
He said doctors have to serve in villages also. The PM talks of ‘Vikas and Vishwas’ and it will be possible only after doctors serve in rural and remote areas.
MP Jugal Kishore Sharma also addressed the function at Jammu.
Advisors to Governor, K K Sharma and Vijay Kumar also addressed the gatherings. Besides, Principal Secretary to Health and Medical Education, Atul Dullo gave overview of schemes and projects launched by Health and Medical Education Department. He said both 100 bedded Cancer Institute at Jammu and 200 bedded Hospital at Kathua will be constructed with 90 percent funding by Centre and 10 percent funding by the State.
Principal Medical College Jammu, Dr Sunanda Raina and Principal Medical College Kathua, Dr Suleman Choudhary read welcome dress at Jammu and Kathua functions respectively while at Jammu vote of thanks was proposed by Bhupinder Kumar, Mission Director National Health Mission.
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