Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, Nov 10: Taking a strong dig at the politicians who create confusion over the accession of J&K with Indian Union, Minister for Irrigation, Flood Control and PHE Sham Lal Sharma today said that Kashmir is not only a part of India but it is India.
Giving away the annual amateur journalist awards of Pt Prem Nath Bhat Memorial Trust to freelancers Alka Lahori and Shiban Khebri, Minister said the Kashmir issue is settled in 1947 and some politicians who had earlier given slogans of plebiscite are now talking of autonomy while others demand self rule for blackmail and to create a confusion among the people.
Mr Sharma said no one in Kashmir is with so called Azadi and among the 700 delegations who met the Interlocutor Dilip Padgonkar during his team’s visit to State majority of them stood for good governance and not for Azadi.
Maintaining that he always remained in controversy by such statements, the Minister said but he never hesitates in speaking the truth. “The Politics and politicians are responsible for problems which they create for their own interests” he added.
He, however, welcomed the recent statement of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah that J&K is an integral part of India and added had this statement been given earlier no one would have dared to create a controversy over the issue.
The Minister said that there is no demand of self rule and autonomy from Jammu and Ladakh regions, though there is 47 percent population of Muslims in Jammu region also. Even the majority of people in Kashmir also didn’t favour these demands, he added.
Mr Sharma said the leaders who use lies to fulfill their political ambitions are ruining the society.
Maintaining that unity of the country is of paramount importance, he said that if nation is disintegrated where the politicians will remain? Hence the nation building should be our paramount responsibility, he added.
The Minister said Jammu has always shown magnanimity and political maturity even during the days of partition when large number of people were massacred in Pakistan. Stressing on development of the State, he said the Jammu region faced discrimination and there is only 45 percent connectivity in Poonch and same is case in Rajouri and erstwhile Doda district. Even in Jammu district there is only 65 percent connectivity. “When we are talking about disparity we should talk on the basis of full facts and figures”, he added.
Opposing the politics of religion and region, Mr Sharma said the duty of a leader should be defined as a leader and legislator.
He said the issues raised by him is the manifesto of Congress Party in 2002 and 2008 elections. Delimitation, setting up of Regional Councils and Sub Regional Councils has been the Congress manifesto and if small State like Meghalaya has 22 Regional Councils why can’t the Councils be set up in J&K?
The Minister said he has taken up development as the main issue and during his tenure as Health and Horticulture Minister J&K received top most national awards. Turning towards the water shortage in Jammu, the Minister said soon after he took over he paid attention to solve this problem. Though every body was talking of Jammu Master Plan but there was nothing on ground and he immediately took up Rs 850 crore drinking water supply from Chenab to Jammu. In this connection earlier ADB was approached for funding but due to certain reasons his Ministry has now decided to seek funds directly from Centre for this project.
On the problems of Kashmiri migrants, especially the Passage of Kashmir Hindu Shrines and Temples Bill the main demand of the Trust, the Minister said he will take up it with the Government.
Earlier Mr Sharma conferred the prestigious Pt. Prem Nath Bhat Amateur Journalist awards to two free lancers Shiban Khebri and Alka Lahori. On the occasion Mr Sharma paid glowing tributes to Pt Prem Nath Bhat and recalled his contributions also.
Speaking on the occasion Shiban Khebri said that he will continue to write fearlessly and with honesty for the national cause while Alka Lahori said that it is her first award and she hope that it is not going to be the last award. She further said that she will continue to write on community issues.
Yash Bhasin, Trustee of Pt Prem Nath Bhat Memorial Trust strongly advocated for the passage of Shrines and Temples Bill for which the Trust has launched crusade for last three years.
President of the Trust Dr Arjan Nath Pandit gave vote of thanks while the programme was compared by Hira Lal Bhat.
The Trust also expressed concern over the grabbing of over 100 kanals of land of Jawala Ji Shrine at Khrew by some unscrupulous elements and sought immediate intervention of the Government.
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