Instability in Pakistan will have no impact on J&K: LG Sinha
Jammu, Feb 28: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has asserted that instability in Pakistan will have no impact on Jammu and Kashmir, notwithstanding its consistent attempts to create disturbances here as people here have seen through its (Pakistan’s) malicious-intentions.
“I feel that they may make any such attempt (to create disturbance) here, it is not going to impact J&K in any manner. Reason being, the people of J&K have very well comprehended that their future is safe and secure with India only. Pakistan, so far, has only exploited and misled youth here in order to serve its own ends. In the process, innocent persons have lost their lives. Besides, pushing it to a vortex of violence, Pakistan has contributed nothing to J&K,” the Lieutenant Governor said.
LG Sinha, during an interview with a national TV channel on Tuesday, was responding to a question related to a fragile democratic structure in the neighbouring nation with an unstable government taking over its reins following recent elections marred by a string of controversies and likely fall out of this scenario there in J&K.
MUHARRAM PROCESSIONS TAKEN OUT AFTER 34 YEARS IN KASHMIR; JANMASHTAMI TOO CELEBRATED WITH FERVOUR
There was visible change in J&K which was witnessing Muharram processions as well as Janmashtami Shobha Yatra being taken out in Kashmir, with large scale participation of people from both the communities during his tenure. When his comment was sought on this account, LG Sinha stated that after 34 years, last year Muharram processions, which were banned earlier, were taken out in Kashmir on the eighth and tenth day and people participated in a large number.
“I believe that the people, as per their faith, should have the liberty to celebrate their festivals and this has happened in J&K also,” he said.
PEACE IN J&K IS REAL
Regarding a query about the comments of political opponents that peace in J&K was fragile and was visible only due to heavy presence of security personnel, the Lieutenant Governor said that there was decline in incidents of terrorist violence; killings of civilians and security personnel by almost seventy percent. “J&K figures at the bottom in case of crimes as per NCRB figures. People in thousands participated in Tiranga Yatra carrying tricolours and Meri Maati; Mera Desh programmes. This can not happen without tangible improvement in the law and order situation. Those who cannot see it, deliberately ignore ground realities. The deployment of security forces too has registered a visible reduction,” LG Sinha pointed out.
He stated that revolutionary changes in J&K became possible as the present government both at the Centre and in J&K did not believe in buying peace. “Present ruling dispensation believed in establishing peace. Earlier those obstructing peace would be engaged in a dialogue process and those who should have been behind bars would be flown to Delhi for talks. This all has changed now. In the past couple of years, 54 persons, who were involved in anti-national or terrorist activities, have been dismissed from service,” he said.
J&K TO GET STATEHOOD AT AN APPROPRIATE TIME
Asked to give a timeline for restoration of statehood for J&K, LG Sinha came out with a single liner, “At an appropriate time.”
CYCLE OF TARGETTED KILLINGS WILL END SOON
With regard to a question about targeted killings, he said that these incidents happened at the behest of Pakistan by its stooges to make their presence felt.
“Some unfortunate incidents did take place. For us, the loss of a single life is monumental. But we caught those persons responsible for these reprehensible acts by probing into their forward, backward linkages. We are trying to dismantle the terror ecosystem to reach the stage where terrorism is completely wiped out from J&K. Top terrorist commanders have been eliminated. Soon J&K will witness an end to this cycle of targeted killings as well,” the Lieutenant Governor said.
ON SPURT IN TERRORIST ACTIVITIES IN RAJOURI-POONCH
When asked about the reason behind recent spurt in terrorist activities in Rajouri-Poonch in the past few years, he said, “Taking advantage of ceasefire along the borders and also because we remained mainly focused on Kashmir, attempts were made to create disturbances in Rajouri-Poonch. Some unfortunate losses, we have to incur there. But the security forces have set up a 360-degree (security) grid to defeat those forces and fail their designs. We will be able to fully contain these activities as well,” he said.
FULL FREEDOM FOR POLITICAL ACTIVITIES
He asserted that there was full freedom for political activities in J&K. “With great responsibility, I’m saying that no political person is under arrest. Action has been taken against only those who challenge the integrity and sovereignty of the country and we will not relent on that,” he said.
MIGRANT KASHMIRI PANDITS SAFE AND SECURE IN J&K
He said that Kashmiri migrants, mainly Kashmiri Pandits, were generally safe and secure in Kashmir. “During earlier regimes, their vacancies were not filled up and houses were not constructed on the pretext of non-availability of land. But now land has been made available for 6000 houses. 2500 houses are ready and by next year all houses will be ready. All 6000 vacancies were filled up. Out of them, around 300 vacancies, created by the resignation of those who got better jobs, too would be filled up soon. I remain in touch with them. There is a special cell in my office to redress their grievances. Similar cells are there at the district level as well,” LG Sinha explained.
SOCIAL, ECONOMIC CHANGES IN J&K
Enumerating changes J&K underwent in the last four years, he stated that post Article 370, due rights were given to Other Backward Classes by granting them reservation which was not available to them in J&K in jobs educational institutions, Panchayats and Urban Local Bodies (ULBs); Forests Rights Act was implemented for Gujjar-Bakerwals besides providing them with other rights. “14 lakh Pahari population was granted Scheduled Tribe status without diluting the quota of existing categories including Gujjar-Bakerwals,” he said.
“Changes are visible in the economic sector in the form of overwhelming investment. In the last over three years, we have received investment proposals of Rs 90,000 Cr (against Rs 13-14,000 Cr investment since independence upto 2021), out of which projects worth Rs 15,000 Cr are taking shape on the ground. 2.12 Cr tourists visited J&K last year; influx of foreign tourists registered around three-fold increase post G 20 summit. Even during COVID, GDP growth was positive and in terms of tax revenue, J&K is performing better than the national average. In case of infrastructure development, tunnel and highway projects worth Rs 1.5 Lakh Cr are presently underway; projects are being completed at a speed ten times faster than the pace earlier it used to be. In 2018-19, we completed 9229 projects but last year, we finished 92,500 projects. We have set a target of 1 lakh works for this year,” LG Sinha mentioned.
“Transparency is visible in the availability of over 1100 online services against 40 services when I took over the reins, – making J&K now number one across the country. We have introduced an auto escalation feature in the Public Services Guarantee Act (PSGA) with a provision of financial penalty on the officer who does not provide service within the scheduled period. 889 officers have to undergo financial penalties. We have changed regressive land laws of J&K. Now land record has been digitised and made available in three languages i.e., Hindi, English and Urdu. We are focussing on the Holistic Agricultural Development Plan, by virtue of which J&K has risen to fifth place from eleventh place in the country. Besides agriculture, tourism and industry have been priority sectors for us. Once HADP gets fully implemented, we will be number one in the country,” he informed.
Regarding social life and law and order situation, he said that nightlife was revived in Kashmir and one could see youth playing guitars on the banks of Jhelum even at midnight. “In terms of urban transformation, outside Europe, Pedestrian market is performing better in J&K even if it is compared to Delhi. Stone-pelting is a thing of the past. Recently a girl thanked me as she completed her degree programme in three years which her brother had completed in seven years due to hartal calendars issued at the behest of the neighbouring country. Schools and colleges would remain closed for 120 days at a stretch. That practice has been relegated to the past. Now the government of the day issues academic and festival calendars,” he enumerated achievements demonstrating changing J&K.
J&K EXCELLING IN SPORTS
Talking about the overwhelming response to recent winter sports (Khelo India) 4th edition and his good connect with youth, the Lieutenant Governor said that the aspirations of J&K youth were in alignment with their counterparts in other parts of the country.
“Under PMDP in 2015, focus was given on improvement in sports infrastructure in J&K. This is heartening to share that last year, 65 lakh people (youth) participated in various sports disciplines. J&K has the highest allocation for sports across the country,” he stated.
He shared that recently when Cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar visited J&K, he conveyed his appreciation for changing J&K, to him over phone. “I was in flight when I got a call from him (Sachin). He stated that he was overwhelmed to see J&K. ‘It was in contrast to what I had imagined. It was so beautiful; so warm and hospitable,’ – Sachin conveyed to me,” the Lieutenant Governor said.
CONSERVATION OF RELIGIOUS STRUCTURES
He said that Rs 200 Cr budget was allocated for preservation and conservation of various religious structures in J&K. Even under the Smart city project, several such structures were renovated, he added.
NO PLAN TO CONTEST 2024 LS POLLS; J&K PRIORITY AT THE MOMENT
In response to a question if he ever missed his erstwhile parliamentary constituency Ghazipur and whether there was any possibility of his contesting from there again in 2024 general elections, LG Sinha stated that responsibility entrusted to him vis-à-vis J&K was his utmost priority at the moment.
“Yes, this is very natural to reminisce about Ghazipur. It’s my birth place. It has been my “Karm-Bhoomi” (place of work and purpose). It continues to be part of my thoughts and memories. I’m in regular touch with the people there. But I’ve been away from the (constituency) politics since 2020. Right now, I’ve a very important task to accomplish related to J&K, which I’ve been performing with sincerity and to my optimum potential. I feel it would have been my good fortune that I have been blessed by Shri Mata Vaishno Devi and Baba Amarnath to perform this task and have been entrusted with this responsibility. Once J&K joins the league with other developed states/UTs of the country, I’ll consider myself very fortunate,” he said.
Lieutenant Governor refused to reply to a query about the preparedness of India to face dual fronts, particularly in the wake of challenges posed by China, stating, “This issue comes under the domain of the Ministry of External Affairs. You are unnecessarily trying to drag me in that zone but I am very much conscious of my limits, my jurisdiction.”
