Minister, Pervez e-inaugurate J&K Bank branch in Saddal
Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, Feb 2: Lambasting Kashmir centric politicians for selective condemnation of terrorist violence, Union Minister in PMO, Dr Jitendra Singh today said it is shameful for them that they don’t utter a word when an innocent person is done to death by the terrorists.
Talking to reporters at the sidelines of e-inauguration of the branch of J&K Bank in flood ravaged village Saddal in Udhampur district, from its Zonal Headquarters here, today, Dr Jitendra Singh said he has reiterated time and again that the selective condemnation of terrorist violence is harmful and the appeasement by so called mainstream parties to a certain section of people will not work but prove harmful for these parties also.
In response to a question that former Chief Minister and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president, Mehbooba Mufti refused to comment on the killing of an innocent girl by militants in South Kashmir district of Shopian some days back, Dr Jitendra Singh said it is unfortunate and had a militant been killed she might have visited his residence also for condemnation and expressing sympathy. “This attitude of Kashmir centric politicians is not going to work and they have been exposed before the masses, he added.
The Union Minister said that these dynastic parties have in past rigged the elections by changing ballot boxes to remain in power. “With this practice they carried on power from one generation to another generation of their respective families and now they want the vacuum and uncertainty to continue so the people should not come out to vote as they are managing their victory by two to three percent votes to continue the dynastic rule”, he added.
In response to another question on the bandh call given by separatists on PM’s visit tomorrow in Kashmir valley, Dr Jitendra Singh said that separatists claiming to be protagonists of Kashmir must realize that politics of bandhs has already been rejected and there are no takers for the same. Earlier during a bandh call by them, there was hundred percent attendance in a recruitment drive launched by the Government, he added.
Exuding confidence that PM’s visit will give thrust to development of the State, he denied that tomorrow’s rally was organized in view of elections and said that the Prime Minister last time in May also visited the State and launched some projects for development. In last near five years, Modi visited the State about 12 times, he added.
Dr Jitendra Singh said the PM will launch those projects tomorrow which were dumped by previous Governments for obvious reasons. “The Prime Minister is very much concerned for welfare of J&K people and development of the State and he discharged his duty fully”. It is time to ask those parties who ruled the State over years that why these projects like Devika, Shahpur Kandi or Jammu AIIMS etc could not be taken up in hand earlier.
Later during e-inauguration of the JK Bank’s Branch at Saddal (Panjar) situated in Moungri Tehsil of District Udhampur at Bank’s Zonal Headquarters here in presence of Chairman and CEO, J&K Bank, Parvez Ahmed, Dr Jitendra Singh lauded the Bank for opening the branches in such remote and far-flung areas of the State where nationalized banks could not reach.
He said people wasting time for seeking Government jobs should take advantage of Modi Government’s welfare schemes by opening up their own ventures. This way they will not only become self employed but also provide employment to many others. He said the people in flood ravaged Saddal who have been provided bank loans today for opening up their small business units will become a role model for other unemployed youth of the State.
He said village Saddal will become an example itself. He added that soon after the devastating floods in 2014, the PM visited the State and while taking the account, he was informed that many lives were lost in Reasi and Udhampur belt of Jammu region due to floods while Srinagar City in Kashmir valley remained submerged in water.
He said at the same time a pledge was taken to rebuild the devastated Saddal village on the same pattern as the Japanese rebuilt Hiroshima and Nagasaki after their devastation in World War Second and the initiative was taken with the help of some NGOs and private players. In this connection, he said an NGO Love Care Foundation was roped in at the first instance which generated funds of about Rs one crore while the services of Mercantile Club of Mumbai were also sought and it provided Rs 50 lakh. The president of the Club himself visited Saddal, he added.
The J&K Bank also came forward and it generated Rs two crore for building infrastructure in the village while another agency generated Rs one crore. He said work on Rs 10 crore road project to the village is under progress and opening of the Bank branch is a great milestone in the development of the area. He said Bank will provide all assistance and help to the people of the area in thriving their local business like handicrafts, handloom, plantation of medicinal and ornamental plants etc to thrive their economy.
Dr Jitendra Singh took a dig at those who tried to hoodwink the public opinion that Saddal village was neglected and hollow promises were made by him with the people. He said if they are really interested in the welfare of the villagers as the rehabilitation and rebuilding process is still going on, they should come forward and contribute for the welfare of the people instead of raising fingers and finding fault in the sincere efforts of the MP and the JK Bank.
Earlier the Chairman and CEO JK Bank Parvez Ahmed said,” we acknowledge and appreciate the concern of Dr Jitendra Singh for the inhabitants of Saddal as he has taken time from his hectic schedule to inaugurate our business unit Saddal Panjar which has been opened for financial interventions to economically uplift the inhabitants of village Saddal who had to face a tragic loss in the flash floods and now being rehabilitated under his aegis.
“I reiterate J&K Bank’s commitment to support the rehabilitation and economic upliftment of the people of not only Saddal but the entire Bhamag region which is severely deficit of opportunities to live a dignified economic life.
“Our team has identified the potential segments like Agri Allied, Dairy, Handloom, Walnut, Medicinal & Aromatic plants etc. We have already taken up with the Public Health Engineering and Irrigation department to augment the availability of water to the inhabitants of Saddal Panjar to enable our team to organize people into cultivation of Lavender which has already been piloted and tested in association with the Indian Institute of Integrated Medicine Jammu with marketing linkages.
“Meanwhile we have already started sanctioning the KCC, Mudra and agriculture loans to the people for productive and gainful employment”, the J&K Bank Chairman said.
The vote of thanks was proposed by Executive President of the Bank, P K Tickoo. Also present at the function were Executive president, R.K. Chibber, president Rakesh Gandotra along with vice presidents Sudhir Gupta, Vinod Sharma, Shareesh Sharma and other senior officials of the bank.
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