‘Restoration of Statehood is PM, HM’s commitment’
*No top comdr alive, local recruitment at its low
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Feb 25: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha today said when the target is development and peace, there is no reason for confrontation between Raj Bhawan and UT Government and reiterated that grant of Statehood to Jammu and Kashmir is commitment of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah.
Sinha said no top commander of any terrorist outfit is now alive and recruitment of local youth is at its low which has worried the neighbour (a reference towards Pakistan) which is trying to send infiltrators.
In an interview to a national Hindi news channel, the Lieutenant Governor, in response to a question on smooth relations between Raj Bhawan and the Chief Minister, unlike Delhi as witnessed earlier, said the rift leads to loss of people’s works and development.
“When the target is development and peace, there is no reason of any confrontation,’’ he asserted.
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On grant of Statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, the Lieutenant Governor said Home Minister (Amit Shah) has assured this in Parliament while Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) made a commitment on Yoga Day in Srinagar (that Statehood to J&K will be restored).
He recalled that challenge of terrorism was in Kashmir and Jammu was peaceful, therefore, security forces were withdrawn from Jammu. But our neighbour (Pakistan), which is worried when there are peaceful elections or they have problems in their own country, infiltrated terrorists to disturb Jammu region. However, now presence of security forces has been increased, he said.
“In the winters, we were expecting successes against the terrorists in the Jammu region but they were not to that extent. We are working for restoration of permanent peace in the region. People of Jammu are nationalists and they won’t tolerate this,’’ Sinha said.
He said the one who opens fire is a terrorist but terrorism won’t end till entire ecosystem is hit. Security forces are targeting the entire ecosystem. Seventy six employees (with terror links) have been sacked by the Government, he added.
The Lieutenant Governor said there was a time when the bandh calls were given at the neighbour’s behest but the strikes and incidents of stoning have now become a history. Now academic and business calendars are issued with support and cooperation of the locals, he added.
He said it was guiding principle of the Government that no innocent should be harassed and no guilty should be spared.
“Lok Sabha and Assembly elections concluded peacefully. Repoll was not necessitated even at a single booth. No political party alleged rigging. The candidates campaigned till late in the night,’’ he added.
The Lieutenant Governor said cinema halls have started functioning after 32 years. “Bollywood has returned to Jammu. Shooting of movies is on. After G20 summit, arrival of foreign tourists has also gone up.’’
Asserting that from independence till 2021 Jammu and Kashmir received only Rs 14,000 crore worth industrial investments, Sinha said following announcement of new Industrial Development Scheme in 2021, Rs 1.65 lakh crore worth proposals have been received.
“There were incentives in the scheme which no other State has. The scheme ended on September 30, 2024 and Rs 33,000 crore worth projects are on ground while production has started in case of Rs 10,000 crore worth investments. The land bank was less which was raised by the administration,’’ he said.
He said 2.36 crore tourists visited Jammu and Kashmir last year.
On economic front, Sinha said tax and non-tax revenues of Jammu and Kashmir have recorded 45 percent growth in last four years. Economy of Jammu and Kashmir with was 1.64 lakh crore in 2018-19 now stands at 2.63 lakh crore. He added that economy of the UT is growing at the rate of 9.5 percent.
“We have also taken certain austerity measures by reducing the expenditure to spend more on development. Recruitment has been made in transparent manner,’’ the Lieutenant Governor said.
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