Jammu, Oct 24 (FN Agency) Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday urged the youth of Jammu and Kashmir to work for the development of the union territory asserting that the era of “sufferings” unleashed on the erstwhile state has come to an end. Addressing his first public rally here at Bhagwati Nagar after the revocation of Article 370 barely a few kilometres away from the borders with Pakistan, Shah said that decades-old “sufferings” and “discrimination” has ended and now it was time to progress and prosper. Without naming the National Conference, Peoples Democratic Party or the Congress, the Union Home Minister said, “I don’t want to name anybody, but three family dynasties for years have ruined Jammu and Kashmir.” “Now, the era of development has been ushered in Jammu and Kashmir,” said the Union Home Minister. “The (three) families that ruled Jammu and Kashmir for decades were questioning, what he (Shah) will be announcing new to the people of Jammu and Kashmir,” Shah said taking a dig at the erstwhile non-BJP governments in the state. “I have come with each and every account of what we have announced and did after revocation of Art 370 and how many developmental and welfare schemes were introduced and implemented on ground,” Shah said in response to all speculations raised ahead of his arrival. “What have they given to Jammu and Kashmir in the last so many years?” said Shah.
He pointed out at projects worth in crores that had not been cleared because of non-payment of the “commission” by the executing agencies to few political leaders before Prime Minister Narendra Modi took the reigns of the Centre in his hand. He said it has been due to Modi and Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha that things have been made possible and paved way for many halted public works to finally take-off. “Many industrialists are waiting to invest in Jammu and Kashmir, especially after the introduction of new industrial policy,” said Shah. The Home Minister also targeted the political parties stating that they mocked the government’s plan of bringing investment to J&K with the introduction of New Industrial Policy. “When the new industrial policy was introduced, three families mocked “who will invest in Jammu and Kashmir”, but with the efforts of the Prime Minister, Rs 12,000 crore investment has already come to J&K and our aim is a total of Rs 51,000 crore by 2022 end,” said Shah. “Jammu and Kashmir is very dear to the Prime Minister and he pays special attention to its development,” Shah said.
Counting achievements of the BJP-headed government at the Centre, Shah stated: “We had dreamt of developing ‘Naya Jammu aur Kashmir’ as was visualized by Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee. The Prime Minister converted it into a reality.” Shah also expressed happiness after inaugurating the IIT campus in Jammu on the birth anniversary of Pandit Prem Nath Dogra stating, “Today is his birth anniversary and people of India cannot forget him because he along with Syama Prasad Mookerjee did not agree to two Vidhan, two Nishan, two Pradhan (as was earlier in J&K).” The Union Home Minister announced four per cent reservation to Scheduled Tribes and also for the border residents stating that soon it shall be announced for the Gujjar community, as well. Regarding development, Shah said the Centre has ensured that in the next two years, Metro trains will reach the doorsteps of the people in the twin capital cities of the Union Territory. He exhorted people to take a pledge and stand like a rock with the Prime Minister’s mission of developing Jammu and Kashmir in ‘New India’. Shah also vowed to the people in Jammu, as well as the union territory and the nation, stating that an atmosphere will be created where no blood of innocent will be spilled. Those trying to disrupt peace in Jammu and Kashmir will not be spared, he said. “After decades, Jammu and Kashmir is on the path of development and it happened only after the revocation of Article 370,” Shah said.
“Jammu and Kashmir has entered into a new era post Article 370 abrogation and I want to make you (people) aware that justice will be done to both the regions and development will be taken to every nook and corner of the Union Territory,” he asserted. The central government on August 5, 2019, revoked Article 370 and 35-A that provided ‘special status’ to Jammu and Kashmir that was bifurcated into two Union Territories. “We want to create an atmosphere where no civilian and innocent gets killed,” said Shah stating that many forces have been trying to derail the process of progress in Jammu and Kashmir but it shall not be allowed to happen. “I reiterate that no lenient approach will be adopted for those who are trying to disrupt peace in Jammu and Kashmir,” said the BJP leader. Shah is on a three-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir. He arrived in Srinagar on Saturday and to Jammu on Sunday. He inaugurated the IIT campus at Nagrota in the city outskirts earlier in the day. Shah was also scheduled to meet MPs, MLAs and senior BJP leaders of J&K and visit Gurudwara in Digiana area here.