HM meets delegations of Paharis, Gujjars, Dogras, Sikhs
Will launch several projects
running into crores today
Historic rally at Rajouri today,
Paharis reach in large numbers
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Oct 3: Union Home Minister Amit Shah reached here tonight on three-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir during which he will launch several developmental works running into crores including many road projects and Jal Shakti Department schemes.
Soon after his arrival here at around 8 pm, Amit Shah tweeted: “Reached Jammu and Kashmir on a three-day tour. Through the medium of different programmes, I’m eager to have dialogue with the people of J&K”.
He met four delegations including Paharis, Gujjars and Bakerwals, Dogras and Sikhs at the Raj Bhawan in presence of Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Union MoS in PMO Dr Jitendra Singh at the Raj Bhawan here tonight.
“Met delegations of Gujjars and Bakerwals, Paharis and Sikh community,” Shah tweeted.
Though another tweet, he said: “Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared Government holiday on the birthday of Maharaja Hari Singh keeping in view his role in making Jammu and Kashmir an integral part of the country”.
He said the delegation of Dogra Samaj met him and thanked the Prime Minister from core of their heart on the decision (to declare holiday).
The Home Minister will inaugurate and lay foundation stone of various projects from Jammu Convention Centre (JCC) on October 4 and in Srinagar on October 5.
Official sources told the Excelsior that Shah will launch projects running into several crores tomorrow at a function at the JCC after visiting holy cave shrine of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Ji and addressing a historic rally at Rajouri.
He will lay foundation of Mother and Child Hospital at Lamberi in Nowshera tehsil, the home village of BJP UT chief Ravinder Raina, in Rajouri district. The hospital has been sanctioned at a cost of Rs 48 crore under the National Health Mission.
Shah will inaugurate 14 Urban Development Projects, 48 roads totaling 269.41 kilometres, eight bridges and 10 power distribution/transmission projects. He will lay foundation stone of 41 Water Supply Schemes under Jal Jeevan Mission, 128 roads with total length of 920.72 kilometres and 10 power distribution/transmission projects.
He will generate/distribution of Land Pass Book and launch 225 Citizens Centric Online Services, 1000 Cooperatives and 2nd edition of District Good Governance Index Financial Year 2021-22.
Shah will have a meeting with senior BJP leaders at 3.30 pm at Jammu Convention Centre here tomorrow. At the same venue, he will launch developmental projects at 4.30 pm.
The BJP leaders are expected to brief the Home Minister that announcement of ST status to Paharis will be a master-stroke and game-change in around dozen Assembly constituencies of the Union Territory including Poonch, Mendhar, Surankote, Kalakote, Nowshera, Rajouri, Thanna Mandi, Budhal and Sunderbani in Jammu region and Uri, Karnah, Gurez and Trehgam in Kashmir.
Besides, the Paharis have sizeable population in Pahalgam, Shopian, Kupwara, Lolab and Baramulla Assembly seats.
Having high hopes from Shah’s rally in Rajouri tomorrow, the Paharis have started reaching Rajouri town from Rajouri and Poonch districts well ahead of the rally as they are anticipating announcement of ST status to them tomorrow.
On his arrival here at around 8 pm, the Union Home Minister was received at the Technical Airport by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, Union MoS in PMO Dr Jitendra Singh, senior BJP leaders including Tarun Chug, Jugal Kishore Sharma, MP, Ravinder Raina, Kavinder Gupta, Dr Nirmal Singh, Devender Rana among others and top officers of civil and police administration.
Tomorrow morning on the occasion of Mahanavmi, Shah will perform darshan of Goddess Vaishno Devi at the holy cave shrine in Katra. He will be accompanied by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, who also happens to be the Chairman of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board.
From Katra, Shah will fly to Rajouri where he will address a mammoth public rally amid reports of very important announcements including the one pertaining to grant of ST status to Paharis.
Shah will leave for Srinagar at around 6 pm tomorrow.
He will address a mammoth public rally at Baramulla on October 5 and chair a high-level security review meeting with top officers of paramilitary forces, civil and police administration.
He will return to New Delhi in the evening of October 5.
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