Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 25: Deputy Chief Minister, Dr Nirmal Singh while welcoming the visit of Prime Minster Narendra Modi to Pakistan today, said that this way the Prime Minister has given indication that India is for peace and he wants to take the initiative of improving bilateral relations with neighboring country started by former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee forward.
Speaking at a function held at his official residence here, today in connection with celebration of Vajpayee’s 91st birthday which is being observed as Sushashan Divas, the Deputy Chief Minster said visiting Pakistan by Mr Modi for improving the ties with neighboring country is an honest step on the part of India. “It is a good gesture on the part of Prime Minster and Pakistan should reciprocate the same positively”, he added.
Dr Singh said earlier India also made sincere efforts to improve bilateral ties with Pakistan but the process was derailed after the infiltration from across border.
He however, said that Pakistan has now realized the futility of gun culture as it too faces terrorist violence now. Maintaining that army and ISI is playing major role in running the affairs in Pakistan, he said these two power centers also run the foreign affairs of that country. “Pakistan is not like India where democracy has given deep roots and now it is high time that Pakistan should come out of it’, he added.
Dr Singh said he had visited Pakistan twice in past and people there too want peace as the country has also facing many internal problems like MQM, Baltistan etc.
While highlighting the immense contribution of the former Prime Minister of India Atal Bihari Vajpayee Dr. Nirmal Singh said that he has been an iconic and one of the most respected leader for the country both at the national and international scene.
MLA Jammu West and State BJP President, Mr. Satpaul Sharma, Former Union Minister Professor C.L. Gupta, Ex MLA, Reshi Kumar Koushal, Ashok Koul, Ms Mumta Singh, M.L. Balgotra, Chandramohan Sharma, Prithvi Chand Gupta Mohan Singh Chauhan and several veteran leaders were present on the occasion.
The Dy. Chief Minister said that Atal Bihari Vajpayee ji holds an important and pivotal role in Indian polity especially at a time when whole of the opposition was being muzzled by the then powers. He said that by dint of his hard work, he was instrumental in giving the necessary impetus to the voice of dissent which is very important in democracy.
Earlier, the State unit of BJP organized a grand programme on the 91st birthday of Atal Behari Vajpayee and celebrated it as Sushashan Divas. The programme commenced with lighting of 91 earthen pots as a token of respect to the veteran leader of BJP.
BJP State President & MLA Sat Sharma (C.A), on this occasion, said that the base of a large establishment or organization is the main strength and it was Atal Behari Vajpayee whom we treat as the base stone of our present day largest political party in the world.
Dy. Chief Minister Dr. Nirmal Singh said that today is the day to take inspiration from the man whose role in laying down the foundation of Jana Sangh and Bharatiya Janata Party had been splendid.
MP & former State President Jugal Kishore Sharma appreciated the efforts of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for working towards launching developmental projects and welfare schemes as a follow up of Atal’s old programmes and policies.
Speaker, J&K Legislative Assembly, Kavinder Gupta said that it was due to the intelligence and qualities which always kept Vajpayee in the centre stage of Indian politics and he has earned the distinction of being respected even by leaders of other political parties despite his commitment and association with BJP.
Senior leader Prof. Chaman Lal Gupta recalled his long association with Atal Behari Vajpayee and quoted a number of instances which reflect how much Atal Behari Vajpayee was concerned for the state of Jammu & Kashmir.
Proceedings of the programme were conducted by Munish Sharma while Dr. Narinder Singh gave presentation through slides about the achievements of Narendra Modi government. A documentary on the life of Atal Behari Vajpayee was also screened in the programme.
The programme was also attended by Cabinets Ministers Chander Prakash Ganga, Ch. Lal Singh, Abdul Ghani Kohli, Board Chairperson Dr. Nirmal Kamal, Board Vice-Chairperson Daljit Singh Chib, MLAs Rajesh Gupta, Dr. Devinder Manyal, Sham Choudhary, Dr. Krishan Lal Bhagat, MLCs Ramesh Arora, S. Charanjit Singh Khalsa, Surinder Ambardar, party leaders Ashok Kaul, Chander Mohan Gupta, Bansi Lal Bharti, Suresh Jamwal, Abdul Qadir Wani, Usha Choudhary, Sakina Bano, N.D. Rajwal, Shiv Kumar Gupta, Mamta Singh, Pawan Khajuria, Er. Ghulam Ali Khatana, Aseem Gupta, Rajni Sethi, Harinder Gupta, Parmodh Kapahi, Prof. Varinder Gupta, Rajnish Jain, Varinderjit Singh, Brig. Anil Gupta, S.S. Bijral, Shilpi Verma, Purnima Sharma, Karan Singh, Anil Gupta, Rajinder Sharma, Rachhpal Singh, Surinder Bhagat, Jaidev Rajwal, Subash Gupta, Sheela Handoo, Baldev Singh Baloria, Ayodhya Gupta, Omi Khajuria, Rakesh Gupta, Vikran Randhawa, Vinay Gupta, Arvind Gupta, K.B. Mahotra, Sanjay Baru, Jaideep Sharma, Ajay Vaid, Keshav Chopra, Praduman Singh, Prof. Sham Gupta, Ramesh Sharma, Rekha Mahajan, Jeet Angral, Veena Gupta, Indu Bhushan, Sureshta Jamwal, Tripta Jamwal, Pushpa Wazir, Ashok Gandhi, Mushtaq Noorabadi, Sharda Devi, Murari Lal and others.
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