Govt ensuring peace, growth in J&K: FM
Opp. not worried about 40,000 people who lost their lives in the last 30 years of militancy
The government on Wednesday said that in Jammu and Kashmir, democracy was reaching to the grassroots level and there has been no other 8month period in the region more peaceful than since the abrogation of Article 370 last August to the present date.
Replying to a discussion on Demand for Grants for the Union Territories of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh, finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman said her government was ensuring development and peace to Jammu and Kashmir. Ms Sitharaman said that the fact that democracy was being brought to the grassroots in J&K was visible by how free and fair Block level elections were held.
“We are planning awareness building workshops for youth. I request members to see the welfare activities which have been happening in Kashmir,” she said.
Taking on the Congress over allegations of human rights violation in Kashmir, the finance minister said why was the party not bothered about human rights when Kashmiri Pandits were being driven out of their home land.
At this, Congress Manish Tewari said
MP that when the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits happened, then it was the V.P. Singh government backed by the BJP which was in power.
Ms Sitharaman responded by saying that the BJP withdrew support to the V.P. Singh government and after that the Congress was in power and why couldn’t it rehabilitate the Pandits in the Valley.
Participating in the debate, Union minister
Jitendra Singh here has not been a more peaceful eight-month period in Jammu and Kashmir since the abrogation of article 370.
Mr Singh said that the Opposition was not worried about over 40,000 people who lost their lives in the last 30 years of militancy, but was only bothered about two-three families. He went to the extent of saying that there was a section of people who considered leaders like the three former CMs as “potential troublemakers”. “Prophets of doom have been proved wrong. That is their agony. It was said earthquake will follow and volcano will erupt,” he added. Initiating the discussion on behalf of the Congress, Mr Tewari earlier said that by abrogating Article 370, the Centre had failed to listen to the voice of the people there.