Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 10: BJP Legislators Sofi Yousuf and Vibod Gupta today trained guns at National Conference member, Showkat Ganai for his remarks on Hizbul Commander Burhan Wani and describing him as ‘Shaheed’, while Congress member Naresh Gupta demanded compensation/ relief for the victims of 2008 Jammu agitation at par with those being provided in Kashmir as announced by Chief Minister in favour of victims of 2016 agitation.
Taking part in the discussion on the Motion of Thanks on Governor’s Address in the Upper House today, BJP member Vibod Gupta said, Burhan Wani was terrorist who picked up gun for killing innocents and he can never be a Martyr. Describing him as Shaheed by the NC member here in the Upper House is most unfortunate. He said many terrorists were killed on earlier occasions but why this unrest after the killing of Burhan Wani. There is need to understand this fact. Wani’s killing was just a ‘tool’ for them to create such a situation in Kashmir and provoke youth. He said 50 Police Stations were attacked, weapons were snatched by agitators. Many security force personnel laid down their lives during this agitation and some youth also lost their lives. What was achieved by the people behind this game plan. They never bother for those who lost their dear ones. There is need to think on this aspect, Gupta added.
Gupta further said that Jammu Kashmir does not belong only to the people of this State but 1.25 crore people of this country. He said Coalition Govt despite all odds is trying to restore peace in the State and also aggravate the pace of development works. He referred to several works initiated by the Govt, in road sector, Tourism, PMGSY and Rural Development sectors. He urged the Government to look into the issues of Pahari reservation, regularization of daily wagers in PHE, PWD among others.
Another BJP member Sofi Yousuf, while commenting on the NC member Showkat Ganai’s remarks said that some people do not hesitate to tell white lies in this august House. He said Ganai who has taken oath of our Constitution while becoming a Member of this House is telling that democracy in India is only up to Lakhanpur and not beyond that. If democracy is not here, then we all can not be here. He said that a Supreme Power is here which is observing this all and we are answerable to the Almighty.
Taking a dig at NC and remarks of Farooq Abdullah to support Huriyat, Sofi said people know what happened in 1987 and how the youth of Kashmir were sent for arms training in PoK. The youth of this State are being used and killed by the people for their vested political interests. Who is responsible for the blood shed of Kashmiri youth, the people who are crying hoarse should ask this question to themselves. He said the man who picked up gun is being projected as Shaheed. It is shameful for the member of this House. There was verbal clash between the NC and BJP/PDP members over the remarks for some time.
Naresh Gupta from Congress targeted Govt for corruption, non-performance and failure on all fronts. He said the PDP leaders claim that it was work of just 5% of people then Why Govt failed to control Kashmir unrest. He demanded that people who suffered losses and also lost their dear ones in 2008 agitation should also be compensated. He demanded that large posters of DyCM and other ministers projected by JMC at various placed in city limit be removed.
Vikramaditya Singh while supporting the youth engagement policy pitched for channelizing their energy through sports and other productive ventures. He also called for formulating sports policy to engage the youth in a big way. He further stressed for rehabilitation of youth recovering from drug addiction and sought opening of more well equipped rehabilitations centres to create awareness and provide counseling to children and their parents.
He underscored the importance of inclusion of people’s aspirations from all regions of the state including opinions of families, villages, towns and cities towards building social and moral consensus. He also appreciated high density plantation Programme and called for its extension to cover areas in Doda and Kishtwar districts. He also welcomed the proposal to create Tourism Development Authorities in Tosa Maidan, Basohli-Bani, Shopian-Dubjan-Peer-ki-Gali and Nubra-Turtuk.
Showkat Hussain Ganai called for collective efforts towards meeting the losses on development front due to Kashmir unrest and urged the Government to frame policies in this regards as people have shown confidence by giving them mandate. He said that those raising hue and cry should go into the ground realities and realize the reason behind the unrest among the Kashmiri youth.
Saif-ud-Din Bhat lauded the efforts made by Government towards conflict resolution, social welfare measures, tourism development, railway connectivity between Udhampur and Baramulla, sanctioning of new hydro power projects and establishment of two AIIMS in the state.
Ajat Shatru Singh called for area specific technology missions for youth to harness diverse young talent across the state. Speaking on ceasefire violation by Pakistan, he called for equal treatment to the people living along international border at par with those living along ALC. He condemned the damaging and torching of scores of school buildings causing irreparable damage to the academic careers of lakhs of young men and women. He supported the Government’s resolve of holding Panchayat elections to establish three-tier Panchayati Raj system.
Khursheed Alam, while complimenting the Government, said that the State has witnessed unprecedented ten-fold increase in industrial investment which has the potential to spur economic growth in the State. He further appreciated for formulation of draft Culture Policy for safeguarding cultural legacy and heritage of the State.
Trending Now
E-Paper
Follow our WhatsApp channel