We will get statehood, special status: Deputy CM

Jammu, Dec 20: Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary Friday asserted that Jammu and Kashmir would get its statehood back besides the special status to safeguard citizens’ right to land and jobs.

“We will get statehood; that is our right. It is right of all of us, here. You too need to speak on this account. We are raising this issue at every forum. We will also get special status to safeguard our jobs and lands,” he said.

Choudhary was responding to media queries after inaugurating the IT expo Jammu at Kala Kendra here.

Asked to comment on the JKPCC chief spokesperson’s statement that the present NC government did not have power as J&K has a dual power structure, the Deputy Chief Minister said, “As far as power is concerned, if you are asking me regarding my ministry or our government, are you not able to notice it (power) in our performance? Yes, there are certain things where some interference is there. Everyone knows that.”

“But let me tell you, whether we have power or not, this government will live up to the expectations of the people. We have a mandate for five years and we will do during this period (five years) what others could not do in ten years. This is the commitment of the National Conference government,” he asserted.

Confronted with queries about the National Conference government facing accusations of discrimination against “Dogri, Hindi and Sanskrit languages in advertising posts of Plus Two lecturers”, the Deputy Chief Minister said, “J&K is a state, converted to Union Territory presently, where people speak varied languages – Urdu, Pahari, Gojri, Sanskrit, Hindi, Dogri and Punjabi. Unfortunately, we talk only about a few languages. We need to talk about Punjabi as well. Provisions should be made for all languages so that students can study the languages they have opted for. There should be provision for Hindi and Sanskrit as well.”

“But we’ll have to understand which pockets need to be identified. I have studied Sanskrit in my childhood but nowadays children don’t opt for Sanskrit. Even students don’t opt for Hindi as our children fail in Hindi subjects while they find it very easy to clear English as a subject. We (in our childhood) used to find Hindi as a very easy language,” Choudhary said.

“We believe that all languages should be respected and should be taught as subjects in schools so that our children can get jobs. We have been in the government for just over two months. We have inherited a very weak (disempowered) Jammu and Kashmir, which is not a state but a UT. There are certain things which are not in our hands like the Police are not with us. So we need your (media’s) support and cooperation of youth, who comprise the future of J&K and this nation. We all, including our leaders – Farooq Abdullah and Omar Abdullah - say that all languages should be respected and taught,” he added.

In response to a question about the Congress demand for the resignation of Union Home Minister Amit Shah for his statement in the Parliament on B R Ambedkar, Choudhary said, “Congress has demanded it so you better ask them.”

Regarding BJP’s accusations against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and the registration of an FIR against him for “manhandling some of its (BJP’s) MPs”, the Deputy Chief Minister echoed the stance of his party leader and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.

“However, as far as yesterday’s incident is concerned wherein some accusations have been made against the Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhiji, we believe that given his inherent nature and behaviour, he (Rahul) cannot do like this (pushing MPs). B R Ambedkar is the architect of the Constitution of India,” he said.

“For all the communities and people belonging to all religions in India, the constitution comes only next to their respective religious scriptures. It (the constitution) has safeguarded our freedom and ensured the rights of all citizens. We both (media and politicians) are talking to each other this way because of the rights given by our constitution. This is why the respect for the Constitution and Dr Ambedkar should always remain intact,” Choudhary said.

About queries regarding the IT Expo, he stated, “Expo was a good opportunity for Jammuites to get acquainted with the new revolutionary trends and innovation in the IT sector. People associated with the IT sector from across India are here bringing expertise and innovation in branded products and technology from across the globe.”

“They will be able to witness “smart classes” here and will also be able to equip themselves to check cyber crimes. I’ve suggested sending IT experts to schools and colleges to create awareness among students against cyber crimes which have emerged as the latest threat and people lose crores due to lack of awareness. I’ve been told that school students will also visit this exhibition. I exhort all Jammuites to visit this expo and derive benefits out of it,” the Deputy Chief Minister said.