‘No talks with Pak, but only with youth, people of UT’
Terror-friendly employees to be dismissed, no jobs to stone pelters
Full freedom to mainstream parties, they are regularly holding rallies
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Dec 2: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha said today that the Central and Jammu and Kashmir Governments will dismantle entire ecosystem of terrorism in the Valley and establish ‘Naya Jammu and Kashmir’ which is free of fear, corruption and developed to such an extent that it can feed the country.
Without naming, Dr Farooq Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti, presidents of NC and PDP respectively and Pakistan, Sinha ruled out talks with any third party on Jammu and Kashmir saying the UT administration as well as the Central Government are directly talking to the people of J&K including youth.
In an interview to TV18 Network, he said the Centre and J&K Government want to destroy entire ecosystem of terror in Jammu and Kashmir to establish peace in the Union Territory.
“Killing militants won’t end militancy. It’s ecosystem of the militancy which has to be destroyed and that day isn’t far when Kashmir will be free of militancy,” he added.
Asked by the anchor about his concept of ‘Naya Jammu and Kashmir’, the Lieutenant Governor remarked: “With the blessings of Mata Vaishno Devi, we want to establish J&K free of fear and corruption, democratic and developed in such a way that it can contribute to the nation. This will take us two to two and half years till ecosystem of the militancy is destroyed”.
Responding to a question on repeated demands from Dr Farooq Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti for holding talks with Pakistan, Sinha rejected the demand.
“I think the stand of our administration and the Government of India is clear that we will talk to the people of Jammu and Kashmir including youth. J&K is integral part of India. People of J&K are ours and we are for people. There is no scope of talks with the third party,” he asserted.
Making his stand clear that there will be no compromise on terror-friendly employees, the Lieutenant Governor said the provision to dismiss Government employees who are even remotely connected to terrorism or facilitating terror activities will continue to be invoked in Jammu and Kashmir.
“A Committee headed by the Chief Secretary and comprising Home Secretary, DGP and DG CID has been set up which has removed many employees from the services and more will be dismissed who are found involved. Also, no fresh Government jobs will be given to those associated with terror or are stone pelters as the CID verification for such posts has been made mandatory,” he said, ruling out Government jobs and facilities for anyone who is even remotely associated with terrorists and terror activities.
On recent targeted killings in the Kashmir valley, Sinha said it was a failed attempt to derail investments, tourism and development which are not being digested by the neighbour (a reference to Pakistan).
“I had said after the selective killings that we will avenge them. Today, none of the killers has survived. Only one militant is left and he too will be (eliminated),” he said but added that the Government will like to create a condition where not even a single killing takes place.
This will take two to two and half years but we will create such conditions, the Lieutenant Governor asserted.
On Omar Abdullah’s charge that soft and targeted killings have gone up and local youth were taking to guns, he asserted that he (Omar) may have his own thinking. “The people of Kashmir are satisfied with our policies. If a secret poll is conducted they will know what has changed in last two years (since abrogation of Article 370 granting special status to erstwhile State),” he said.
Pointing out that there is full freedom to mainstream political parties in Jammu and Kashmir, Sinha said they have been given security…they are daily holding political rallies…for political process whatever facilities are required will be given.
On rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandits to the Valley, he said the Government had created 6000 jobs and construction of 6000 houses for them in the Valley.
“Except 132, all posts have been filled. Of 132 also, 80 posts have been advertised. Among 6000 houses approved for construction, work is on for 3500 while tenders have been floated for the rest. The task is expected to be completed in one and half years,” Sinha said.
Speaking on the benefits being given to people after abrogation of Article 370, Sinha said that the people were being denied the reservations and after August 5 they got these benefits.
“The rights of sisters and daughters here used to end when they got married in another State but now this has changed. It was decided on caste in J&K, who can buy land, now they can buy land and Forest Right Act has been implemented for the welfare tribal,” he said.
On elections, Sinha said “The Home Minister in Jammu and Kashmir during his visit very clearly said that delimitation will be followed by the elections to the Legislative Assembly and after that Statehood to Jammu and Kashmir will be considered at an appropriate time.”
“Delimitation work is going on in Jammu and Kashmir. The Delimitation Commission is a Constitutional body. Elections will be held after its work is completed, as announced by the Prime Minister in his speech from the Red Fort,” he said.
Sinha also informed that a large amount of investment is coming to J&K.
“Investment of Rs 15 to 20 thousand crores was expected in the new industrial plan, but till now, proposals of Rs 35 thousand crores have been received,” he added.
Sinha said that the investment proposal 15 thousand crores of rupees has been approved.
In comparison to the last 60 years, he said that number of tourists in Jammu and Kashmir has increased significantly. More than 13 lakh tourists came to Jammu and Kashmir in the month of November.
Sinha said, “In Jammu and Kashmir, 25,000 projects have been completed in two years. The youth of Jammu and Kashmir are getting jobs on the basis of merit and transparency.
In terms of farmers’ income, the farmers of Jammu and Kashmir are at number five, whose monthly income is 18-19 thousand rupees.
Sinha said, “Work has started on the project of 25 new National Highways in Jammu and Kashmir. There has been a huge increase in the number of flights from Jammu and Srinagar airports.”
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