Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, May 27: As waving of Pakistani flags at rallies by separatists become frequent, the Centre today said it will not tolerate such incidents and that those involved will be severely dealt with.
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh while sending this warning at the same time said the Centre was ready to talk to everyone in Jammu and Kashmir.
Singh also appealed to the youth of Kashmir Valley not to get influenced by the separatists and avoid raising pro- Pakistan slogans and waving of Pakistani flags.
“We are ready to talk to everyone. Democracy is all about keeping open the communication lines, but we won’t tolerate anybody raising pro-Pak slogans and raising Pakistani flags on Indian territory. They will be severely dealt with,” Singh said while addressing the `Jan Kalyan Parv’ function at KK Resorts and later speaking to media persons during his one day visit to Jammu.
Singh said the State Government has been asked to take strong action against people who raise pro-Pakistan slogans and wave Pakistani flag. “The Jammu and Kashmir Government has been acting on this direction.”
The Union Home Minister said he feels pained to see the youth of the State, especially of Kashmir, being misguided.
“It pains me to see the youth being misguided. When some misguided youth raise pro-Pak slogans and wave Pakistan flags, it is not a good thing. I appeal to such youths not to get misguided. We need everybody’s cooperation to move forward, to take this country forward,” Rajnath said.
He said it was against the tenets of Islam and every other religion to praise another country while living in one.
“It goes against the tenets of Islam or even against the tenets of Hinduism to praise another country while living in one country. Islam and even Hinduism do not accept this,” he added.
Rajnath said the youth should boycott the people who raise pro-Pakistan slogans and wave Pakistani flags in the Valley. “The youth must not come under the influence of those handful of misguided people who want to misguide others as well.”
He appealed to the youth to give an opportunity to the Government to work for them as it was ready to hold dialogue with everyone.
“There is a process those who want to hold dialogue are welcome and we are ready to hold talks with them, they must talk to the elected Government in the State first and then if need be they can talk to us as well,” the Union Home Minister said.
He said separatists were playing with the emotions of the youth of Kashmir and that the youth must come forward and take part in constructive activities.
Sending a clear message to Pakistan to stop meddling in India’s affairs, Rajnath said the neighbouring country must stop its nefarious activities if it wants its “own welfare”.
“If Pakistan wants its own welfare, then it must stop meddling in the affairs of other countries. It must stop all its nefarious activities aimed towards India,” he said.
Giving a strong warning to those who want to harm India’s pride, integrity and sovereignty, he said that the country would give a befitting reply to such people.
“Those who want to harm the pride, integrity and sovereignty of the country will be given a befitting reply. We trust our Army, our paramilitary and our forces. No question can be raised on their integrity and love for the country,” he said.
Singh said India always extended a hand of friendship towards its neighbouring countries including Pakistan, but Pakistan always resorted to backstabbing.
“Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee extended a hand of friendship towards Pakistan, but it stabbed in the back. Then when Prime Minister Narendra Modi took over the office a year ago, he invited all the heads of the State of the neighbouring countries to the swearing-in ceremony including the Pakistan Prime Minister,” he said.
Singh said that Pakistan must think over its actions as it has not been reciprocating the positive response of India towards it.
He said the Government had given open orders to the armed forces especially the BSF to respond with all its might to any aggression from across the border.
“In October last year, Pakistan resorted to unprovoked ceasefire violation. I saw on television that five of our citizens have died. I asked the Director General, BSF, to make sure that we are not the first to open fire. But if we are fired at from across the border, then Pakistani side must get a befitting reply with full might,” he said.
Singh said that it was the response from the Indian side that Pakistan was forced to go to the United Nations to request it to intervene and ask India to stop firing on them.
Singh said during taking the oath of office Prime Minister, Narendra Modi extended hands of friendship to Pak on the same pattern as was done by former Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee who had said that the neighbors can’t be changed. But Pak did not respond properly. The Pakistan must realize the importance of good neighborly relations and improve relations with India, he added.
Singh warned that if any country dared to attack India’s unity, integrity and hit its honour that will be given befitting reply. Giving full credit to Indian Army, para military forces and police in combating terrorism and repulsing intruders from across the border, he said the nation has full faith and trust in its forces and no one can raise a finger over them.
Rajnath said infiltration from across the border has come down as compared to previous years while there has been an increase in the number of militants killed by security forces in Jammu and Kashmir.
He said that Pakistan has been given befitting reply by India whenever it has resorted to ceasefire violation.
“Our security forces are there in the Valley to deal with them (militants) but I want to tell you that infiltration (from across the border) has come down as compared to previous years,” the minister said.
He further said that more terrorists have been killed by the security forces this year as compared to previous years.
“More area commanders of Lashkar-e-Toiba and other terrorist outfits have been killed this year. We will never compromise with the security of the country,” he said.
On ceasefire violations from across the border, Singh said, “Though we want to have cordial relationship with Pakistan, there is a limit to everything. Tolerance has its limits.”
He said that India strongly believed that every country in the world must progress and India believes in living in communal harmony.
“There are 72 sects in Islam and there is no other country in the world except India where all of them live together. The first church in the world was constructed in Kerala some 2000 years ago. The Parsi community got so much of respect in this country and Jews say that India was the only country in the world where they were not persecuted,” he said.
Maintaining that India has been a tolerant country, Union Home Minister said it is the only country world over which has 72 sects of Muslims and first Church in the world was established in Kerala 2000 years back. India is also the only nation in the world which gave due respect to the Parsis, he added.
Mr Singh said the Jews who wondered for hundreds of years together after establishing Israel as their country have written in their history that over these years the India was the only country which gave them respect.
On the issue of separate AIIMS for Jammu, Rajnath said the people observed a bandh here today during his visit which is a “cause of concern for us” and efforts will be made to find out a solution to the problem.
He said Deputy Chief Minister, Dr Nirmal Singh and BJP State president, Jugal Kishore Sharma have taken up the issue with Union Government and he will too apprise the concern of people to Prime Minister in this regard and hope that the issue is addressed.
Maintaining that BJP wants that the coalition in the State should run its full term, he expressed the hope that this Government will work to take the State on the path of progress and development.
He said he was fully aware of the problems of J&K people.
“There are problems of Kashmiri Pandit refugees, West Pak refugees, PoK refugees and displaced people from various parts of Jammu region and the Government is trying to find a solution to all these problems”, he added.
He said all efforts will be made to provide bread and butter to West Pak refugees, rehabilitate the displaced Pandits and settle the problems of other refugees.
Singh said for rehabilitation of displaced Pandits funds have been kept in budget and Chief Minister has assured that land will be provided for their rehabilitation soon.
Attacking the previous Congress-led UPA Government, Rajnath said it suffered from policy paralysis and credited Narendra Modi of taking the country from inactive to active mode.
“During the UPA rule there was a policy paralysis in the country. Congress Government took years to decide on Defence deal, whereas, in the last one year Narendra Modi dispensation has cleared 40 Defence proposals,” Singh said. Lauding Prime Minister Narendra Modi of taking the country from ‘inactive mode’ to ‘active mode’, he said, “in the past one year, the country has come to active mode from inactive mode. Unlike Congress, which was in inactive and silent mode for the past 10 years, Narendra Modi Government has been in active mode from the very first day it came to power.”
Claiming that there was not a single charge of corruption against the Modi Government, Singh said the Congress-led UPA Government was marred with large scale corruption.
“Congress Government was victim of policy paralysis, our Government brought transparency in decision making. While Congress-led UPA was marred with so many charges of corruption there was not a single one against our Government since it came to power a year ago,” he said, adding that the BJP-led NDA Government at the Centre was committed to provide clean governance to the people of the country.
He said, the Defence preparedness, in the past one year, has received a boost with Government clearing 40 new projects that were pending for approval during the previous regime for several years.
Singh said several measures taken by the Prime Minister has helped in improving India’s image on the global platform.
“It was because of the new Government’s positive outlook that not only domestic but also foreign investors were feeling secure to invest in India.
“Till now the FDI has increased by USD 28 billion. Investors from outside and within the country are feeling safe to invest in the country,” Singh said.
The Union Home Minister, who was highlighting achievements of one year of NDA rule, also said that the Modi Government’s ‘Make in India’ initiative was not only aimed at bringing a manufacturing revolution in the country but also to help eradicate the problem of unemployment.
Elaborating further, he said India will welcome the FDI and also have an upper hand, as the Government would control the 51 per cent share in it.
“Be it the company from America or Germany, whatever they manufacture in India would be ‘Made in India’ and the products would be of world class quality that people would be ready to purchase,” Singh said.
He said Modi has given a confidence of good governance and a new dimension to the country’s development.
“Since the Narendra Modi Government took over, there has been 27 per cent increase in power generation in the country. Apart from power generation, development of the highways too have taken place,” Singh said, adding while in 2013-14 only 3,621 km of highway was constructed but it has gone up to 7,980 km in 2014-15,” he said.
Besides, there has been an growth of 46 per cent under the ‘Prime Minister’s Gram Sadak Yojna’, he added.
The Home Minister said that the world has also accepted that after China, India was one of the fastest growing economies. “Even in G-20, India has emerged as the fastest growing economy.”
He said Narendra Modi Government has taken major steps to bring back the black money stashed abroad and made the welfare of the poor and the farmers as its priority.
“Schemes like Jan Dhan Yojna, social security schemes have connected the poor and downtrodden with the banks. Even the IMF has also appreciated this, and Jan Dhan Yojna has found place in the Guinness Book of World Records,” he said.
He said while the inflation and price rise was ‘sky-high’ during the UPA Government, the new Government has not only brought it under control but has reduced the prices of essential commodities.
“Consumer price index which stood at 8.48 per cent during Congress rule has now been brought under 4.87 per cent,” he said.
Singh said that Indian Government has offered the benefit of reduction of global petroleum prices to the consumers.
“Our opponents say that prices have reduced as the global petroleum prices have reduced, then the same must be applicable to other countries as well, while the prices in India have come down, it continues to be the same in other countries,” he said.
Singh said the country’s GDP was stagnant at 5 per cent during the Congress rule, but now has come to 7 per cent while the fiscal deficit has also come under control.
Giving full credit to Modi Government on its overall performance, he said International Rating Agency which rates economy of different countries in its report mentioned that India’s economic system among G -20 nations is on increase and if any where the economy is improving after China that is India.
The Union Home Minister said that unlike the previous Government the decisions taken by Modi led Government have transparency and there are no individual decisions. There is no corruption allegation on us while Congress regime was knee deep in corruption and they have allegations of 2 G scam, coal scam and many other scams and scandals, he added.
Highlighting the benefits of Make in India launched by Modi Government, he said foreign investors were invited to invest in India and during previous regime due to lack of support the domestic investors were hesitating to invest apprehending loss. But under this policy both foreign and domestic investors have started investing in big projects. The objective behind this is to boost economy and generate more employment, he added.
Singh said the goods manufactured here under make in India programme will be world class and they will be labeled as Made in India. These goods will be purchased now by foreign countries. The Union Minister said for last 68 years India had to purchase arms and aeroplanes from other countries though we have no dearth of resources and talent. The reason for this is that projects were not cleared for years together, he added.
He said in comparison to this during one year 40 projects were cleared by NDA Government. “We told in unequivocal terms to those foreign companies from which we made purchases that half of the money received from India for the deal is to be spent in India.
Mr Singh said many facilities and innovate steps were taken for benefit of farmers as we believe that majority of Indians live in villages and the progress of nation is incomplete without progress of rural India.
The social security scheme is another milestone in this direction as on Rs 12 one can get a Rs two lakh accidental insurance. Besides, power generation has increased during this period and instead of 32 percent of total revenue States were provided 42 percent of the same to boost their economy, he added.
The BJP stalwart said that after its coming into being in 1980, the Party got only two seats in Lok Sabha during 1984 general elections and political Pandits in the country at that time had said that the Party will be eliminated from political scene of the nation. But with the support of Party workers the BJP today not only emerged as country’s largest party but the largest party of the world having a membership of 10 crore people, he added.
Giving entire credit for this to Party president Amit Shah he said “what I couldn’t do as president of the party was done by Mr Shah”. He said people gave overwhelming support to Mr Modi and in 30 years the Congress could not get the clear majority but BJP got which shows the people’s love for Party and Modi. For this leaders not but workers deserve all credit, he added.
Earlier, addressing the rally, Deputy Chief Minister, Dr Nirmal Singh said that BJP has not given up AIIMS issue for Jammu and recently he along with other leaders met Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and Health Minister J P Nadda demanding separate AIIMS for Jammu. “We were given assurance that the Centre will consider it”, he added.
Making a dig at those who are launching protest over this issue, he asked: “who was responsible for converting the AIIMS project for Jammu sanctioned by Vajpayee Government into a Super Specialty Hospital”? He accused the opposition of doing politics on the issue.
Dr Singh said that it was during the regime of Ghulam Nabi Azad that AIIMS was snatched from Jammu. He said the Jammu lake will be constructed. The Chief Minister had earlier made an announcement regarding deferring of project but later he realized its necessity, he added.
Dr Singh made it clear that BJP is not for power and can sacrifice it for the interest of Jammu people as Party has struggled over the years for the interests of nationalist people and will never let them down.
Making a scathing attack on Congress for talking about Jammu’s interests he said those who ignored the Jammu and Ladakh regions for decades together have no right of talking about the discrimination. Dr Singh said coalition is committed to justice for all three regions of the State.
BJP State president Jugal Kishore Sharma, termed one year Modi rule better than 10 years Congress rule. He said that BJP-PDP is working on CMP and party will not allow any discrimination with Jammu. The Union Finance and Health Ministers assured that AIIMS will be established at Jammu also, he added.
He demanded that recruitment of border people be made in para military forces.
Health and Medical Education Minister, Ch Lal Singh, Forest and Social Welfare Minister, Bali Bhagat, MoS Education and Culture Priya Sethi also spoke on the occasion. While MoS Finance, Pawan Gupta, senior BJP leader and MP, Shamsher Singh Manhas, former president and MLC Ashok Khajuria, MLA Jammu West Sat Sharma and other senior leaders were on the dais.
The stage was managed by Party general secretary Manish Sharma.
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