Serbia Ambassador calls on Minister
Excelsior Correspondent
NEW DELHI, Sept 17: Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh has proposed an upgraded Sports Stadium, from Central funding, in the name of Late Arun Jaitley, at Hiranagar in district Kathua.
This comes close on the heels of Dr Singh’s recent proposal, approved by the Union Ministry of Road Highways and Transport, for naming the state-of -art Chenani-Nashri Tunnel after Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee.
Dr Jitendra, who was known to be very close to Arun Jaitley and had, at the time of Jaitley’s untimely death on August 24, made the widely reported remark that “India had lost its best brain”, first took up the issue of having “Arun Jaitley” Sports Stadium at Hiranagar with the Union MoS (Independent Charge) Sports, Kiren Rijiju soon after Jaitley’s death.
As a follow up today, a written proposal was submitted in the Ministry of Sports for upgrading the existing Sports Stadium in Hiranagar to national/international standards and naming it after Arun Jaitley. The upgradation could, in addition to other ingredients,consist of laying of modern synthetic athletic track, synthetic hockey/Football track, swimming pool, Gym, upgraded facility of toilets, galleries and change rooms as well as provision for the latest sports equipment. This may also involve up-gradation of seating facilities, provision of public toilets, floodlights for the stadium and proper drainage system.
In a written communique, Dr Singh referred to Arun Jaitley’s deep attachment with Hiranagar and in fact, the entire Jammu & Kashmir. He said, incidentally, Jaitley was also a son-in-law from here and over the years, he had shown deep interest in day today political as well as other developments in Jammu & Kashmir. He also credited Jaitley for having provided valuable inputs, from time to time, which finally culminated in the successful abrogation of Article 370 and recalled that Jaitley wrote his last Blog on the evening of August 6, soon after the Lok Sabha had passed the resolution and Bill seeking abrogation of Article 370 and reorganization of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh.
Dr Singh, who had accompanied Jaitley during the latter’s last visit to Jammu about two years ago, recalled that a demand for Sports Stadium was put up before Jaitley even at that time by the residents of Hiranagar. Jaitley, who was himself a great promoter of sports particularly cricket, had taken a serious note of this demand, and therefore, this would be a befitting, even though a humble tribute to his memory, he added.
Meanwhile today, Serbia Ambassador to India, Vladimir Maric called on Dr Singh and discussed various areas in which Serbia, a prominent Central and Southeast Europe country, could actively engage itself in Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, particularly after the abrogation of Article 370 and reorganization as Union territories.
The Ambassador also discussed with the Minister issues relating to Serbia’s possible engagement in software technology, particularly in Jammu & Kashmir and North East.
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