‘Security forces on the job, Jammu will be normal soon’
*Essential to remove black sheep from administration
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Apr 4: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha today said he knows his limits and will never cross them as he made it clear that whatever has been done (transfers of 48 JKAS officers) is well within the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization Act. He also declared that situation will be normal in the Jammu region very soon with deployment of Army, paramilitary forces and JKP in higher reaches.
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Responding to a question on row over transfers of 48 JKAS officers ordered by him which has been objected to by Omar Abdullah Government with NC and alliance partners also holding an emergency meeting in Srinagar, Sinha said he has been saying this with great responsibility that he hasn’t done anything outside J&K Reorganization Act.
“I would like to make it clear that the J&K Reorganization Act was passed by the Parliament in 2019. And I am saying with great responsibility that I have not done anything outside this Act. I am well within my domain and I will never do anything outside of that. I know my limits and I will never cross those limits,” he said in an interview with national news channel aired this evening.
On relations with new Government, Sinha reiterated that if agenda of the Government is peace, prosperity and development which was ours also, there will be no issue. However, he said, if any issue crops up, it will be resolved.
Regarding restoration of Statehood, Sinha said the things have been moving in sequence. The Home Minister (Amit Shah) had stated on floor of the Parliament that there will be delimitation, followed by Assembly elections and grant of Statehood.
“The Supreme Court was also briefed the same thing. Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) during his visit to Kashmir on International Yoga Day had also announced restoration of Statehood while the Home Minister too reiterated recently that the Statehood will be given at an appropriate time. Let there be no doubt to anyone about this. People should wait,” he added.
On charges that peace was forced in Jammu and Kashmir, the Lieutenant Governor said the people visiting the Valley are our brand ambassadors and they have been sending message very loud and clear that there is peace in the UT. “This has resulted into visit of more people to Jammu and Kashmir”.
However, he said the peace is no going well with the neighbor (a reference towards Pakistan) which always keeps trying to disturb the situation.
“Lok Sabha and Assembly elections were conducted peacefully. Local recruitment of the terrorists is at its lowest. Infiltration has been down. And all this is not going well with the neighbor,” Sinha said, adding the neighbor’s efforts won’t succeed and peace will continue to prevail in Jammu and Kashmir.
On situation in the Jammu region, the Lieutenant Governor said for the last three years efforts are being made (by the neighbor) to create disturbances.
“Our focus initially was on Kashmir as there was peace in Jammu during past 15-16 years. Now a 360 degrees approach has been added. Assam Rifles, CRPF and JKP have been deployed in upper reaches. There is coordination among security agencies. And very soon, Jammu will be normal,” he asserted.
He said the advantage we have in Jammu is that people have never supported militancy and this will be one of the reasons for fast return of normalcy in the region.
Ruling out any possibility of revival of terrorism or disturbances in the Kashmir valley, Sinha said the Central Government has will power and it always maintains strict surveillance on the situation. “No one can even dream of the situation returning to the days of disturbances,” he added.
Describing Pakistan as a failed State, Sinha said the neighbor has been suffering from internal problem with long queues for ration while this side of Jammu and Kashmir has been witnessing massive development. On PoJK, he said he knows his boundaries and this issue is the domain of the External Affairs Ministry.
To a question of Shri Amarnath Ji pilgrimage, Sinha, who is also Chairman of Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB), said six feet road has been widened to 12 feet and Grid power has been supplied on Baltal track and shortly it will expand to Nunwan track.
Asserting that previously only outfits were banned and the individuals heading them used to float new organization, the LG said now the Ministry of Home Affairs has banned individuals also to keep a check on their activities.
He maintained that it was necessary to remove black sheep from the administration and declared that action against them will continue till such persons exist in the system. He pointed out the previous dispensations sometimes took help of such elements to buy peace in Jammu and Kashmir.
On the Industrial Development Scheme, Sinha said there was massive response to the scheme and incentives of 10 years ended just in three years and they have requested the Centre for enhancement.
“Rs 10,000 crore worth projects have started productions while investment proposals worth Rs 20,000 crore will be on ground shortly. The Industries Department has received Rs 1.5 lakh cr worth proposals. 46 new Industrial Estates are being created. As many as 1088 Startups have registered with the Ministry of Commerce under Startup Policy and 383 of them are led by the women,” he said.
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