Also meets Om Birla, Giriraj, Parhlad Singh
Sinha returns after 3-day visit to Union capital
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Feb 3: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi and briefed him on various aspects of situation in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
During his stay in the Union capital for three days, Sinha also met Speaker Om Birla, Union Minister for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Shandilya Giriraj Singh and Union Minister of State for Food Processing Industries and Jal Shakti Parhlad Singh among others.
In his half -an-hour long meeting with the Prime Minister, Sinha is reported to have briefed him on security situation and pace of development works in Jammu and Kashmir.
However, there was no official statement issued by the Jammu and Kashmir Government on Sinha’s meeting with Narendra Modi.
Only yesterday, the Home Ministry stated in the Parliament that 439 militants were killed in Jammu and Kashmir, mainly in the Valley, since abrogation of Article 370 on August 5, 2019.
The Lieutenant Governor is also understood to have briefed the Prime Minister on the ongoing developmental works and projects in Jammu and Kashmir including the Prime Minister’s Development Package (PMDP).
A number of works and projects are under execution in Jammu and Kashmir under the PMDP as well as various other Centrally Sponsored Schemes which are regularly being monitored by the Central Government functionaries and J&K administration.
Annual budget of Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory is also to be tabled in ongoing budget session of the Parliament by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.
Current financial year’s budget of Jammu and Kashmir was to the tune of Rs 1.08 lakh crore and it was tabled in the Parliament by Sitharaman on March 17 last year.
“Discussions on the budget are also at advanced stage between officials of the Jammu and Kashmir administration and representatives of the Finance and Home Ministries,” sources said.
More discussions are expected in New Delhi between the officials before finalization of budget and its presentation in the Parliament.
Slight increase in Jammu and Kashmir’s budget for 2022-23 as compared to 2021-22 is expected, they said.
Meanwhile, the Lieutenant Governor also met Speaker Om Birla in the Parliament and is understood to have discussed presentation of Jammu and Kashmir’s budget among other issues.
“Lieutenant Governor of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir Manoj Sinha called on Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla in Parliament House today,” a tweet by Lok Sabha Secretariat said.
However, it didn’t give details as to what transpired at the meeting.
Sinha also met Union Minister for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Shandilya Giriraj Singh in New Delhi and reportedly discussed with him the development of rural areas and working of Panchayati Raj Institutions.
He also called on Union Minister of State for Food Processing Industries and Jal Shakti Parhlad Singh in the Union Capital and had detailed review of ongoing ‘Jal Jeevan Mission’ in Jammu and Kashmir besides other issues of the Union Territory.
A day before, the Lieutenant Governor had met Union Minister for Tourism and Culture G Kishan Reddy and reviewed steps for further promotion of tourism in the Union Territory.
“There was surge in number of tourists in Jammu and Kashmir till December but the numbers came down in the month of January in view of third wave of COVID-19,” sources said but added that the Government is anticipating revival of tourism this month as COVID cases have started easing.
Late this evening, Sinha returned here after three days visit to the Union capital.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
