Jammu, Feb 12 (KNS): Announcing the constitution of an expert committee to look into the claims of people of left out areas in the Cabinet Sub-Committee Report for creation of new administrative units, Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah Wednesday said that the said Committee would be asked to finalize its report within three months to be presented before the Cabinet for final decision.
“I appreciate the Members of the Cabinet Sub-Committee led by the Deputy Chief Minister for visiting every nook and corner of the State and finalizing the report regarding creation of new administrative units taking full consideration of the norms and other parameters. However, it is being felt that the genuine claim of a few areas which have not found place in the Report need consideration to deliver justice to the people”, he said and added that the aspirations of the people of these areas would be given due consideration by the committee of experts so that their genuine claims are properly looked into.
Replying to the discussions on the Motion of Thanks for Governor for his address to the Joint Session of both the Houses of Jammu and Kashmir Legislature on 10th of February, the Chief Minister while paying his gratitude to the Governor for delivering the address, expressed dismay over the behaviour of the principal opposition party (PDP) for disturbing the discipline and decorum of the Joint Session and compelling the Governor to shorten his speech.
Omar Abdullah said that the principal opposition party (PDP) is habitual of creating pandemonium in the House as they do not tolerate the truth about the peace and development that has rooted fast in the State during the last five years and is amply visible on the ground. “It is most painful and shameful that the member of this party created an unpalatable and disturbing situation in the Joint Session of the two Houses and disturbed the address of the Governor”, he said and added that the Members of this party are in the wrong notion that their habit of noise making, furniture breaking and dancing on the tables in the well of Houses earn them praises.
“People dislike and condemn this kind of attitude of their representatives because they have voted them to voice their demands in the Legislature and not to indulge in remaining absent from the Houses and not discussing the issues of urgent public importance”, he said and termed PDP and BJP as propagandist parties nurturing on fooling the people through misinformation and falsehood. He said both the parties are hobnobbing secretly and hatching conspiracies against democratic forces in the State.
The Chief Minister said that PDP is so much so frustrated by witnessing the peace conditions rooting fast in the State and development graph showing conspicuous upward growth year after year that it wants to give a false notion to the Country by dubbing the normalcy and peace conditions in the State as ‘deceptive and forced calm’. He said they try to use this phraseology as propaganda to belittle the achievements of the Coalition Government and the commitment of people towards peace and development. He said they want to give an impression as if the prisons of the State are full of prisoners, people are afraid and do not want to live their normal life. He said PDP sells this contention to create confusion in the minds of people outside the Country as they are most disturbed by witnessing the turnaround in the conditions in the State which have helped to fast track the development and expand economic activities and employment generation for the youth.
Omar Abdullah said that only 2396 prisoners held under different charges are in the prisons. He said 30 people mostly timber smugglers have been apprehended under PSA. He said the rate of militancy has come to lowest ebb and loss of civilian in these incidents has decreased conspicuously. However, he added that security forces have lost more precious lives in the militancy related incidents during the last five years.
The Chief Minister appreciated security forces for not losing their calm even under challenging circumstances and not resorting to any retaliatory firing. He referred to incident of Srinagar bypass where eight army persons were killed in a militancy attack, the incident of Bemina, Samba and Hiranagar in which Army jawans and Police personal were killed but the forces did not retaliate and saved the innocent lives. “I salute the security forces for this kind of restraint”, he said and expected similar kind of high quality attitude by them during the times of challenge to save the innocent lives.
Omar Abdullah also referred to the decision of Army to look into the incident of killings in Machail and while appreciating this he said that the decision of
the Army regarding closing of Pathribal case needs revisiting. He said some innocents have been killed in the incident and justice demand that the culprits are identified and punished.
The Chief Minister said that under the Amnesty announced by him for the detainees apprehended in 2010 for stone pelting, some 228 cases against 1811 persons have been withdrawn. He said under the new Passport clearance policy his Government gave No Objection in 360150 pending cases during the period 2010 to 2013.
Taking a dig on PDP for remaining out from the proceedings of the House constantly, the Chief Minister said that this vindicates their failure and the success of Coalition Government. “Had there been any issue, they could have raised it and discussed in the House, but their remaining away from House and not raising their voice for the peoples clear indication that they have nothing to say”, he said and referred to the path breaking initiatives taken by the Government to give good governance, bring transparency and accountability in the functioning of administration and to lay strong edifice of participatory democracy in the State.
“We have conducted Panchayat Elections, empowered these institutions and the Cabinet has approved the incorporation of the provisions of 73rd amendment into the Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir through the Legislative business which will enable to constitute Block Development Councils and District Development Planning Boards to be headed by elected representatives and not through the nomination process”, he said adding “this is called the participatory democracy”. He said that the provisions of 74th amendment to empower Urban Local Bodies have been almost incorporated.
The Chief Minister also criticized the attitude of PDP with regard to the decision of the Government relating to the creation of administrative units and said that this party had also tried to hamper the decision of Ghulam Nabi Azad the then Chief Minister of the State, regarding the creation of eight new districts in the State. “The members of this party in the Cabinet of Mr. Azad tried to browbeat him but he did not yield to their tactics and went ahead to create new districts”, he said and added that PDP indulges in this kind of attitude for they consider the party on the losers side for not taking this kind of decisions when they had the opportunity to do so. “Since they have lose the argument as such they run away from the House as has been their past practice”, he maintained.
Omar Abdullah castigated BJP for carrying the false bogey of abrogation of Article-370 whenever elections draw near and sleep over the issue when in power. He said like PDP, BJP wants to fight elections by raising false propaganda. Without naming Narendra Modi, he said that a top leader of BJP talked about discussing the benefits of Article 370 when he spoke at a public rally in Jammu. “I challenged him to discuss it with me at any place and any time but he, through a lesser important leader, denied discussing the issue at all”, he said.
The Chief Minister said that National Conference and Congress will protect and safeguard the Article 370 under all circumstances as it serves like a bridge between the Centre and the State and determines the relations between the two.
On the achievements and performance of the Government during the last five years, the Chief Minister said that about one lakh youth have been provided employment in the government and private sectors while 70000 jobs have been put on fast track selection made. He said initiatives like UDAAN, HIMAYAT, SKWEPY etc are under successful implementation in the State to enhance the employability and expand employment orbit for unemployed youth of the State.
On Power generation, the Chief Minister said that as against the indigenous power projects of the capacity of 750 MWs established in the State since 1947 to 2009, his Government allotted power projects of the capacity of 1500 MWs in just five years. He said strong edifice has been laid to generate 9000 MWs of power in the State in next seven to eight years. He also mentioned the high potential for generation of solar energy available in the Ladakh region and said that an expert on the subject has told him “what is gulf for oil, Ladakh is for generation of solar energy”. He said all efforts are being made to give boost to the generation of solar energy in Ladakh and transmit power from this area through a new transmission line being installed between Leh to Srinagar.
Omar Abdullah expressed gratitude to Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi for liberal financial help and support to the State Government to march ahead on road to progress and development and mentioned construction of 4-laning of National Highway, boring of tunnels at Nashri and Qazigund and launching rail service between Banihal and Baramulla.
The Chief Minister highlighted the need for broad banding the railway network in the State and creating South-East railway corridor in the Valley and connecting Poonch, Rajouri and like areas with the railway network. He said he has taken up this issue with the Union Government and will pursue it there.
The Chief Minister said that during the last five years about 8000 kilometres long new roads have been constructed, 15000 kilometres macadamized and 19000 kilometres upgraded besides comple
ting 500 road projects and 265 bridges. He also mentioned the launch of flyovers in Srinagar and Jammu. He said completion of 4-lane National Highway from Jammu to Srinagar will reduce the travel between the two cities to 4 hours.
Omar Abdullah said that over 1000 water supply schemes have been completed during the last five years besides the establishment of 10000 hand pumps and 200 water treatment plants. He said 5000 schools have been provided with protected drinking water facilities. He said about Rs. 1616 crore water usage charges have been collected from various power companies generating electricity from the rivers of Jammu and Kashmir.
Omar Abdullah said that two Central Universities, 23 Degree Colleges, 18 Polytechnic Colleges and 6 Modern ITIs have been set up in the State during the last five years. He said 20000 ReTs have been regularized in this period.
The Chief Minister said that 26 new health institutions and two maternity hospitals were established in the State and 10000 doctors and paramedics were engaged to provide staff to the health institutions in rural and far-flung areas. He said the salaries and allowances of doctors have been enhanced under NRHM for serving in the rural areas. He said One Number Ambulance Service is being introduced in the State soon adding that Jammu and Kashmir has shown remarkable improvement in almost all vital health parameters. However, he showed concern about the decline in sex ratio and appealed the members of the Legislature to play their role in making society aware of the fall out and consequences of female feticide.
The Chief Minister also mentioned increase in the tourist flow during the last five years and said that it has remained over 10 lakh in the Valley during 2012 and 2013. He said the number of pilgrims to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi shrine has also gone to one crore and those visiting Shri Amarnath in lakhs.
The Chief Minister also referred to the measures taken by his Government to improve the lot of farmers, horticulturists and artisans in the State. He said various packages have been provided to the agriculturists during the last five years. He said on the pattern of Kissan Cards 23000 Artisan Cards have been provided to artisans to develop their craft units and enhance economic conditions. He said 4000 modern carpet looms have been provided to poor carpet weavers and 4000 more are being provided this year free of cost.
The Chief Minister said that his Government has taken positive and effective welfare measures for Kashmiri Migrants. He said his Government wants to create conducive and palatable atmosphere for Kashmiri Pandits in the Valley so that they would return on their own will. He said 1500 jobs have been given to KP youth in the Valley and 4000 jobs are in offing for them. He said that a new rehabilitation package for the rehabilitation of Kashmiri Migrants is being pursued at the Union Government level which would accommodate the requirements highlighted by the community. (KNS)
