Form of words:
Srinagar: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday hit out at National Conference President Farooq Abdullah for demanding talks with Pakistan, saying the government would like to talk to the youth of Jammu and Kashmir to make it the most developed country in the country.
The Home Minister, who is on a visit to Jammu and Kashmir – his first since the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019 – remotely inaugurated several development projects and laid the foundation stone of some.
“I read in newspapers that Farooq Abdullah has suggested that the government should talk to Pakistan. They have a right to express their opinion, but we would love to talk to Kashmiri youth,” Shah said while addressing a function at SKICC here.
“The abrogation of Article 370 had only one intention – to put Kashmir, Jammu and the newly created Ladakh (Union Territory) on the path of development. You will see the fruits of our efforts by 2024.
The article, which granted special status to the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir, was repealed in August 2019 and the state was bifurcated into the union territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
Shah inaugurated a 500-bed hospital constructed at a cost of Rs 115 crore at Bemina, laid the foundation stone for Handwara Medical College, Rs 46 crore steel girder bridge over Ferozepur drain in Baramulla district and road projects worth Rs 4,000. crores, among others.
The home minister, who is on the third day of his visit to Jammu and Kashmir, said those who advocate talks with Islamabad and separatists should be asked what Pakistan has done in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
“Compare the development between this side and PoK. Do they have electricity, roads, healthcare and toilets. There is nothing (on the other side). You (Kashmiris) have the same rights as other Indians.
Without naming the Congress, the National Conference and the People’s Democratic Party, he said that while only three medical colleges were established by the “three families ruling Jammu and Kashmir”, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has ensured seven new medical colleges and These are coming.
“Earlier 500 youth could become doctors… Now from these new medical colleges 2,000 youth can become doctors. No one will need to go to Pakistan to study medicine.
Shah said that the plans and schemes of the Modi government will ensure that Jammu and Kashmir will be the most developed province of the country.
He sought people’s cooperation to make this dream come true. “Only the youth of Jammu and Kashmir can work towards achieving this goal,” he said.
Stating that the government aims to wipe out terrorism from Jammu and Kashmir and end the killings of civilians, Shah said no one would be allowed to disrupt peace and development in the Union Territory, which is headed by Minister Modi has a special place in his heart.
Defending the ban on internet services and imposition of curfew after the abrogation of Article 370, he said that “some people must have misled the public. Who would have been killed? Kashmiri youth. We know that a young man for an old man”. How heavy is the son’s coffin.
He said that 40,000 people have died in the violence in Kashmir and it should be stopped now.
“So many people don’t even die in wars. We have to come back and take Kashmir to new heights of development.
The minister said an investment of Rs 12,000 crore has already been made in the union territory and the government aims to provide a total of Rs 51,000 crore by the end of 2022, to provide five lakh jobs to the local youth.
Shah said the “three families” are accountable to the people for the failure to develop Jammu and Kashmir in the last seven decades.
“A new phase of development under Modi has started in J&K but attempts are being made to create hurdles by the opposing elements. I have come here to assure you that no one will be able to create hurdles and obstruct peace and development,” Shah said.
He said that a new phase of development has begun and no one can stop it.
Listing out the various steps taken by the government since the formation of the BJP government at the Centre, Shah said that five lakh jobs are being created in Jammu and Kashmir, while 20,000 people have been given government jobs in the last two years.
“The three families used to say who will come and invest in J&K…. The minister said that in just six months of the announcement of the new industrial policy, we have received an investment of Rs 7,000 crore in Jammu and Rs 6,000 crore in Kashmir and are expected to invest Rs 50,000 crore by the end of 2022.
Hitting out at the “three families”, he said they were asking what the government was going to give to Jammu and Kashmir.
“There is a long list of what we have given to J&K and people know it very well but people are demanding answers from them as to what they have given to J&K despite ruling the erstwhile state for the last seven decades . Have you thought of anyone other than your family members?” Shah asked.
Read also: ‘Nobody can disrupt the peace and development of Jammu and Kashmir’ – Amit Shah in Jammu
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