Has any Kashmiri leader lost kids to terrorism: J&K guv
KATRA:JAMMU and Kashmir governor Satya Pal Malik on Tuesday fired salvos at leaders of Hurriyat, mainstream parties in the state, religious preachers and clerics for inciting Kashmiri youth in the name of ‘Allah’ and ‘Jannat’.
“None of them have lost their kids to terrorism. Their own children are well settled but the child of a commoner is shown that the way to paradise is to get killed,” Malik said while addressing the seventh convocation of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University in Katra town.
Alleging that “affluent and powerful” sections have crushed the dreams of the youths in Kashmir and destroyed their lives, he appealed to the people to understand the truth and join the Centre’s efforts to usher peace and progress in the state.
“Politicians, bureaucrats, affluent and powerful have crushed the dreams of the youths and destroyed their lives. These social leaders, religious preachers, Moulvis, Hurriyat and mainstream parties have used their influence to get the children of ordinary Kashmiris killed. None of them have lost their own child and nobody from their families joined terrorism,” he said.
“I want to tell the people of Kashmir and the youth to understand the truth. You have beautiful place in the world to live .... Come forward and be part of the new phase and tread the path of progress and development,” he added.
The governor said 22,000 Kashmiri youths are outside the state for education and accused the politicians of neglecting the needs of people of J&K.
“Why do they have to go outside for education? It is because we have not been able to provide standard education in the state over the last many decades. If the money which was pumped into Kashmir was used by politicians and bureaucrats in a proper manner, the roof of your homes would have been of gold,” Malik said.
Malik, who is known for his candid remarks, said that after joining as the governor, “I have not taken input from the intelligence agencies. They are not telling the truth to Delhi or us.”
Malik said he had sanctioned 53 degrees colleges last year and is opening 50 more colleges, including professional colleges, in the state shortly. “I have upgraded 242 schools to higher secondary school overnight,” he said. Malik said the position of a governor in the country is very weak as he does not have the right to hold a press conference or talk his heart out.