Avtar Bhat
KATHUA, Mar 31: Ridiculing the oft repeated statements of opposition parties that the BJP has forgotten the legacy of founder of Bharatiya Jana Sangh, (BJS), Dr Shayama Prasad Mookherjee who laid down his life for total integration of J&K with India, Union Minister in PMO with independent charge of North Eastern States, Dr Jitendra Singh today asked the Opposition to join hands with his party in taking the legacy of Jana Sangh leader forward if they are really so impressed by his ideologies.
“We welcome every body, who owns Dr Mookherjee as their leader, as he does not belong to BJP only but gave the supreme sacrifice for the national cause as he was the leader of entire nation”, Dr Jitendra Singh said while addressing the functions in connection with Swach Bharat Mission at Lakhanpur and Kathua townships.
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He said after remaining out of power for three years the opposition parties have realized the importance of Dr Mookherjee “and we welcome this gesture and their change of heart,. They accuse us of not carrying forward Dr Mookherjee’s legacy during the last three years of our rule and we will welcome them if they join hands with us in carrying forward the legacy of the Jan Sangh leader”, he added.
Dr Jitendra Singh said that this is a good news for entire BJP that those who were opposed to Dr Mookherjee’s ideology have started showing concern for him and his legacy. This has proved that the Jan Sangh founder was unparallel leader in the country who not only gave sacrifice for BJP and State of J&K but for the entire nation, he added.
The Union Minister said, Dr Mookherjee belonged to all and it is heartening that the Opposition parties including Congress leaders have started eulogizing his role.
“If we could not do any thing in three years of our rule to carry forward his legacy let them come forward and carry forward his mission”, he added.
He said the Vikas (developmental) programme launched by Prime Minister, Narendra Modi is the result of sacrifices given by Dr Mookherjee and two generations of BJP since then.
Dr Jitendra Singh said that Kathua has the potential to become the hub of business and industrialization as it is in the middle of two major cities of Jammu and Jallandhar of Punjab. He, however, regretted and took a dig at those, who are opposed to investors from outside in the State.
“Those who oppose the outsider investors in the State think that it will affect their status and secularism without thinking that such mindset is adding to the unemployment and youth become jobless. They go to outside states for jobs and their parents get disturbed in turn as they don’t want to be disassociated from their children.
Dr Jitendra Singh however said that present Government took various steps to end the 70 year old discrimination with this region and it is committed to the development of Jammu region as a whole.
Earlier talking to reporters at Lakhanpur, the Union Minister said that starting of smart fencing on trial basis in the border belt is the part of the Union Home Ministry’s decision to fence the International Border with latest technology to check the infiltration from across. He said the decision was taken during the last visit of Union Home Minister, Rajnath Singh to border areas of the State.
“All the vulnerable areas along border including those spots where the fencing gets washed away in floods and wherefrom the infiltration across the border becomes possible will be fenced with latest technology.
He said the other welfare measures taken for border areas is sanctioning of two more battalions of security forces to provide employment to people of border areas, construction of bunkers and toilets etc.
He also made reference to various developmental projects including Biotech Park in Ghati, Kathua, Keriyan Gandyal bridge, Dreamland Park, Medical and Engineering College in Kathua, Seed Processing Plant etc.
Addressing the gathering, Rajeev Jasrotia MLA Kathua complimented the Union Minster for taking keen interest in development of his Lok Sabha Constituency. He said the inking of Shahpur Kandi Project became possible only after Dr Jitendra Singh took keen interest.
He said besides many welfare and employment generation projects were launched in Kathua district with the efforts of the Union Minister and termed Kathua as the nucleus of the Parliamentary constituency.
On the occasion, Dr Jitendra Singh distributed scooties among the five differently abled persons at Kathua. He also inaugurated two toilet complexes constructed by Sulabh International at Lakhanpur and Sabzi Mandi Kathua in connection with Swachh Bharat Mission. During the inauguration of toilet complex at Lakhanpur, Forest Minister Lal Singh was also present.
The gathering was also addressed by BJP leader, Sanjeev Sharma, district president BJP Kathua, Premnath Dogra and Anil Kumar Singh Associate Member and Hony. Secretary of Sulabh International.
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