Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, Oct 29: Taking a strong dig at certain political activists of Kashmir valley and some fringe organizations in Jammu for creating a hue and cry over the ban on internet services in Jammu and Kashmir, Union Minister, Dr Jitendra Singh today said that the ban helped in averting some major terror incidents.
Speaking at the conclusion of DISHA meetings, held separately for districts of Doda and Kishtwar, Dr Jitendra Singh alleged that those opposing ban on Internet have a vested interest in the continuance of militancy or they want to play politics at the cost of India’s sovereignty and common man’s safety or they are not literate enough to understand the nuances of anti-militancy strategy.
He asserted that the liquidation of killers of Parihar brothers and Chandrakant in Kishtwar was accomplished because of the suspension of the internet, which has also helped in flushing out terrorists operating in Kishtwar and other parts of the Chenab region.
He said terrorists have been arrested while crossing the border and their designs to create disturbances have been foiled because of ban on Internet. It only happened because their handlers’ on this side could not coordinate them. He said the infiltration has also been contained to a great extent because of net ban.
Lambasting those political activists from the Valley who are advocating for lifting the ban on internet in Jammu and Kashmir, Dr Jitendra Singh said these elements are working at the behest of “anti national elements” otherwise they should not make such statements.
He said Doda being a hilly district, there is no Panchayat left out without receiving Rs 30 lakh funds from Government and asked officers to compare that how much funds they received for Panchayats during last 70 years.
Dr Jitendra Singh said certain political activists in Kashmir valley have been continuously raising hue and cry over the suspension of internet services because they are the beneficiaries of terrorism and their politics has, over the last three decades, survived due to dismal voter turn-out under fear of militancy.
But more pathetic is the case of the fringe elements in Jammu region, said Dr Jitendra Singh, who have fallen in the trap of this pro-terror jargon and are trying to denounce the suspension of Internet. He said, either these political activists are devoid of issues and are therefore desperate to make an issue even if it is at the cost of common man’s life or they are too illiterate to realize what they are saying.
He expressed surprise that some of these fringe leaders, who otherwise proclaim themselves to be nationalists or patriots or self-styled guardians of Jammu, are actually issuing thoughtless statements which are a music for Pakistan and also an endorsement as well as support for those who have been executing terror attacks in Jammu region.
Citing evidence, Dr Jitendra Singh pointed out to the recent nabbing of the terrorists who were travelling from Lakhanpur towards Jammu and could be effectively intercepted and eliminated due to ban on internet. Similarly, he said, the other day, some terrorists being chased out of Kishtwar by security forces, barged into the house of a local citizen in Batote but were successfully liquidated because they were devoid of internet connection to be guided by their cohorts.
At the same time, he said, a number of infiltration bids from the border could be foiled because a stray infiltrator, who did manage to cross over to this side could not be helped by his associates to carry out further movement as had been the practice earlier by using Internet, Whatsapp and similar means.
All this has been meticulously planned in the Union Home Ministry with due diligence and thorough discussion, which is beyond the comprehension of these self-styled intellectuals and commentators who have no clue about it, he said.
Dr Jitendra Singh said, some critics and certain sections of media are tending to look at the restrictions through the prism of abrogated Article 370. He called upon the District Collectors as well as the “learned” journalists to do a thorough scanning of past 30 years of militancy and find out on how many occasions the Internet was suspended, sometimes for an equal or even longer periods of time, even when Article 370 was very much in place. He then asked them to draw comparison between the statistical pace of development activity during those periods of Internet suspensions and the present period.
The breaking news for the media, quipped Dr Jitendra Singh, was that in spite of the Internet suspension for the last two months, Jammu & Kashmir has been No.1 State in India with highest percentage population covered under Auyushman Bharat. The second breaking news, he said, is that Udhampur Parliamentary constituency is possibly the only constituency in whole of India which got three Centrally funded Government colleges in a single go, one each in Kathua, Doda and Udhampur. The third breaking news, he said, was that the first of its kind National Institute of High Altitude Medicine is coming up in Bhaderwah now.
Similarly, without caring for vote bank politics, under the Modi Government, said Dr Jitendra Singh, “we have tried to change the work culture and priorities, the result of which is that a Degree College has been approved for the remote area in Doda called Marmat even though it had traditionally voted for different political parties”. The small town of Paddar in Kishtwar neglected by earlier Governments because of vote considerations, has now received a Centrally funded Degree College, he said.
The survey is complete for the game-changer Khellani-Goha-Sudhmahadev new National Highway,he informed.
Maintaining that Prime Minister, Narendra Modi brought a new concept of development in J&K, he said, the people who still have doubt in this regard should visit far-flung Panchayats of Doda, meet Panchs and Sarpanchs there and record their statements regarding development.
The Union Minister made it clear that if “we have to improve the working of Panchayats the Panchs and Sarpanchs be asked that what should be priority in their areas.” He said that out of Rs 3600 crore funds sanctioned under PMGSY in the State the Kathua- Udhampur -Doda constituency got lion’s share of Rs 1700 crore.
Criticising the previous Governments for misleading the people only, he said today there is a Degree College in Marmat and Post Office was opened for the first time under Modi regime in Gandoh which lacked this facility for 70 years, despite the fact that there was Union Minister as well as Ministers in State Government and even a Chief Minister from this area.
Dr Jitendra Singh gave on spot directives to officers to take effective steps in ensuring the speedy water supply to the newly constructed Medical College Doda. He showed concern over delay in providing water supply to the College after the issue was raised by the Principal Medical College in the meeting.
He also stressed the officers to produce the utilization certificates for MPLAD Fund and asked them to develop the work culture and work under a proper discipline in the changing system.
He said MP LAD Fund has already been released by him for development of the constituency.
President Municipal Committee Thatri, Manzoor Ahmed highlighted various issues pertaining to his area which he said was neglected and discriminated by successive Governments till date.
While, appreciating Modi Government’s revolutionary steps in J&K, he demanded that the leaders under house arrest be detained for 10 years.
Deputy Commissioner, Doda Dr Sagar D Doifode and Additional DC Kishtwar Mohammed Hanif Malik gave details of various projects and schemes in their respective districts.
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