Yogesh Sagotra
Jammu, Oct 24 : Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday said that the government of India is working to ensure that “no civilian gets killed in the violence in Kashmir.”
Addressing a rally in Jammu as per news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), Shah, whose visit comes amid a spate of civilian killings in the Valley, said: Government is working to ensure that no civilian gets killed in the violence and no one will be able to create any hurdle in the development of Jammu and Kashmir.”
He said some people are raising questions about security. “Between 2004-14, 2081 people lost their lives, 208 people were killed per year. From 2014 to September 2021, 239 people lost their lives. We’re not satisfied with these statistics as we want to build a situation where nobody loses their lives and militancy completely ends,” Shah said.
The Home Minister arrived at the well-attended rally amid thunderous applause and sloganeering by people in Jammu. Police and paramilitary personnel were deployed in strength in and around the venue.
This was Shah’s first to Jammu and Kashmir since the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019.
On Jammu Discrimination:
Starting his speech, Shah said “Jammu and Kashmir is in the heart of PM Modi and I like to confirm that Jammu will no longer suffer any discrimination.”
He said: “I came to Jammu today to say that the time of injustice to the people of Jammu is over, now no one can do injustice to you. Some are trying to disrupt the era of development here, but I want to assure you that no one will be able to disturb the era of development.”
Shah also remembered Prem Nath Dogra on his birth anniversary.
“Today is the birth anniversary of Prem Nath Dogra. People of India can’t forget him. He along with Shyama Prasad Mukherjee gave the slogan that in a country two Vidhan, two Nishan, two Pradhan will not work. We won’t let people who want to disrupt the peace in J&K succeed,” he added.
About Metro & Jammu Airport Expansion
The Union Home minister announced that Jammu and Srinagar cities will soon be connected with metro services while Jammu will get extended Airport with helicopter services to every district.
“Earlier people of Jammu & Kashmir would visit Delhi to see metro train but now Metro is coming to Jammu and Kashmir in next two years”
Shah further said that there is a proposal to relocate Jammu Airport and land has been identified for the purpose. “The UT government recently framed helicopter policy which ensure heli services to all districts and religious places,” he said.
On Development & Industry policy:
The Union Home Minister said that if youth join the development of Jammu and Kashmir, militants will fail in their design.
Shah further said that Rs 12,000-crore investment has already come to Jammu and Kashmir and the Centre aims at total Rs 51,000 crore by end of 2022.
Training guns at the regional political parties in Jammu and Kashmir, the Union Home Minister said, “When we introduced new Industrial policy, three families that exploited you used to mock who will come here. But due to PM Modi’s feat, Rs 12,000 cr investment has come till now. I want to tell you that Rs 51,000 cr investment will come before 2022…giving lakhs of jobs to youth.”
Politics, delimitation:
Targeting the previous regimes for depriving people from power, Shah said that blue print of Jammu and Kashmir’s new journey is almost ready.
Three families failed to do justice with Jammu and Kashmir. “What did these three families give to Jammu and Kashmir for 70 years- 87 MLAs, 6 MPs. Modi ji has done the work of making 30,000 people elected representatives, a Panchayat has been formed in every village… Now ‘Dadagiri’ of these three families will not work,” he added.
“Sketch to provide reservation to Schedule Cast, Schedule Tribes, Refugees and OBC’s is ready,” Shah said adding, Now every section and community would have own representative in the assembly.”
J&K LG Manoj Sinha also addressed the rally saying, “There was a time when people of Gurkha community were devoid of government jobs & higher education. Valmiki community was devoid of education & good employment opportunities. Women weren’t getting their rights. Today you see all of it turning into reality.”
Earlier today, Shah inaugurated a new campus of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) – Jammu and laid the foundation stone for various development projects in Jammu.
He said, “Jammu IIT campus is one of the most modern ones. I was impressed to see the campus today.”
Shah paid obeisance at the Digiana Gurudwara here and prayed for peace and prosperity. Flanked by Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Union Minister Jitendra Singh, Shah visited the gurudwara in the afternoon after addressing a public rally, officials said.
Later in the evening, Shah meet Member Parliaments , former MLAs and MLC’s and senior BJP leaders of J&K along with panchyat representatives.
Around 5 pm, he will leave for Srinagar. The Union Home Minister is on a 3-day visit to the UT of Jammu & Kashmir.
On the first day of his visit on Saturday, Shah met families of soldiers and civilians killed this month in a spate of terrorist attacks in Jammu and Kashmir and held a security review meeting in Srinagar, followed by an interactive session with the members of Jammu and Kashmir’s youth club.
He said that the statehood of Jammu and Kashmir will be restored after the delimitation of constituencies and assembly elections—(KNO)
