Early Times Report
Jammu, Sept 29 Union Minister Jitendra Singh on Sunday asked devotees to offer special thanks to goddess Vaishno Devi for abrogation of Jammu and Kashmir''s special status.
"This is the first Navaratri after the abrogation of the Article 370. We have to offer our thanks to Mata for it as three of our generation left (this world) and we were also not hopeful of seeing the day in our lifetime to see the complete integration of Jammu and Kashmir with India," Singh, the minister of state in the Prime Minister''s office, said.
Addressing a gathering of devotees who had turned from across the country to take part in the ''Shoba Yatra'', marking the commencement of Navaratri festival in Katra town, Singh said the prayers are also needed for the smooth transition of the process of bifurcation of the state which is completing on October 31.
"We need the blessings of the Mata and offer our special thanks to her for making it possible in our lifetime," he said asking the devotees to pray for peace, prosperity and development of Jammu-Kashmir and Ladakh.
Interacting with reporters, he said the terrorism in the border state is in final stages and will be finished within one year.
"We are determined to finish off the terrorism from the country especially Jammu and Kashmir," he said. |
