Post 370, 40 per cent decline in terror incidents; said the Home Minister
BUNTY MAHAJAN
JAMMU, JANUARY 22: The Union Minister of Home and Cooperation Amit Shah on Saturday said that situation in Jammu and Kashmir, after the abrogation of Article 370 has considerably improved as there has been 40 per cent decline in terrorist related incidents during 2019-21.
“Some political parties are hurt because Panchayati Raj has taken effect away from clutches of their families and they say that after the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu & Kashmir, the law and order situation has deteriorated. I want to tell these people that if we undertake a comparative study of the period from April 2017 to 2019 and 2019 to 2021, then there has been a 40 percent decline in terrorist incidents and 57 percent in deaths,” he said while virtually releasing India’s First “District Good Governance Index”.
It has been prepared by DARPG in collaboration with Government of Jammu & Kashmir. Minister of State for PMO, Personnel, PG and Pensions, Dr. Jitendra Singh and the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu & Kashmir, Manoj Sinha at Convention Centre Jammu.
Pointing out that the highest influx of tourists in J&K during the current winter is a testimony in itself, he said. The employment avenues have been scaled up in J&K and in coming times, 5 lakh youth of UT will get employment, he added.
Shah also said that as far as the democratic process is concerned, delimitation has begun and elections will be held immediately. As soon as the situation becomes normal, Jammu & Kashmir will get full Statehood, he added.
Appreciating the efforts of LG J&K, Manoj Sinha, Home Minister said that under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a big change is seen in Jammu and Kashmir which is in line with the vision of a New India. Till 2019, only 87 MLAs, six MPs and three families used to share power in Jammu & Kashmir, but today more than 30,000 people’s representatives from the village level to UT level are serving people, he said.
“Some political parties are hurt because Panchayati Raj has taken effect away from clutches of their families and they say that after the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu & Kashmir, the law and order situation has deteriorated. I want to tell these people that if we undertake a comparative study of the period from April 2017 to 2019 and 2019 to 2021, then there has been a 40 percent decline in terrorist incidents and 57 percent in deaths,” he said.
Describing this event an important day not only for J&K but the country as a whole, Shah said that this new beginning in J&K today will reach every state of the country and will lead to a healthy competition of good governance in every district of the country.
He also said that the district is an important unit in the true sense if good governance is to be taken to the grassroots level and unless there is good governance at the district level, the governance has no meaning. Shah added that competition between districts through this Good Governance Index will be of great benefit to the general public of J&K.
Emphasising that when people receive good governance, they automatically become participants in the development process, the union minister said that Jammu & Kashmir in every sector has attempted to provide direct benefits to the beneficiaries in last two years which is making middle men angry but the government is not afraid of their displeasure.
Pointing out that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has a clear objective that Jammu & Kashmir should have a corruption-free governance, Shah said that people now need not to give anything to anyone for scholarships and benefits from centrally sponsored schemes.
Referring to J&K’s huge potential to attract tourists from all over the world, he said that the kind of statements made by some leaders of Jammu of Kashmir gives an impression that they do not want tourism to increase in the Union Territory. However, these statements will not make any difference as Jammu & Kashmir has registered record number of tourists in winter this year and this growth will continue in the days to come, he added.
Stressing that employment and tourism are interlinked in Jammu & Kashmir, Shah said that there is a conspiracy by the opposition to keep youth away from employment by issuing such statements so that tourists do not visit. He also said that the youth of Jammu & Kashmir were forced by those previously in power to go to Pakistan and abroad to study medicine as from 1947 to 2014, there were only 4 medical colleges and 500 seats in J&K.Today, there are 9 medical colleges, 15 nursing colleges and 1,100 MBBS seats and 600 paramedical service seats now in J&K.
Shah said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made the best ever industrial policy for Jammu -Kashmir, under which investment of about 50,000 crore rupees is going to come in J&K, which will provide employment to 5 lakh youth. The investment during last 70 years was only Rs. 12,000 crore and now in a single year, MoUs for investment worth Rs. 12,000 crore have been signed and ground breaking ceremonies worth Rs. 2,000 crore have also taken place, he added.
He emphasized youth of J&K to walk on the path of development laid by Shri Modi as now no one can stop Jammu & Kashmir from becoming the most developed region of the country.
Pointing out that the number of completed development works in Jammu & Kashmir have increased from 9,000 to 21,000, he said it shows that the welfare of the people of Jammu & Kashmir is the top priority of PM Modi.
He said there were many who used to say that violence will increase and investment will decrease. However, the violence has decreased and investment worth Rs.12,000 crore has come due to new industrial policy in just one year and arrival of tourists has also increased and Jammu & Kashmir, he added.
Shah emphasized that the people of J&K should not be misled by those who have their vested political interests, and also by those who want to create a different kind of feeling especially in the minds of the people of the Valley. Pointing out that democracy has reached the grassroots level, Shah added that only democracy can bring prosperity and development in J&K and can give employment to youth and for democracy to be good, it is important that peace should exist in Jammu & Kashmir.
He maintained that under J&K LG, administration is making major efforts to compensate for the gap of 70 years in five years. Shah added that he is sure that the efforts of LG admin under the guidance of PM Modi will fill this gap.
Shah also urged all to focus on development, especially the youth of valley who should participate in the development process, in the new political process, in the democratic process so as to make their future bright.
Amit Shah in his address said that the launch of the District Good Governance Index (DGGI) is a matter of pride not only for the UT of J&K but for the entire country. Sh. Shah added that this Index will further be implemented in other States and UTs across the entire country thus presenting a developmental picture of every district of UT which will allow administrators to priorities initiatives in district that need more attention.
Through District Good Governance Index, the services will seamlessly reach to common people ensuring equitable and regionally balanced development.He also said that Good Governance Index is a new beginning of a process of making districts efficient in terms of administration & governance while taking transparency and accountability to the last mile.
Shah emphasized that this exercise will strengthen the basic infrastructure and set up a benchmark to improve governance. While stating that democracy is the only way forward towards the development of J&K UT, Shah said that under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi, people’s participation in democratic setup has improved considerably in J&K ensuring development and prosperity of the people.
