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| Azad congratulates Mirwaiz for boldly expressing abhorrence against bloodshed | | Addresses largest ever gathering adjacent to zero line of Arnia border | |
JAMMU, JAN 21
While congratulating Mirwaiz Moulana Umar Farooq and his colleagues for their bold statement against violence and in favour of peace and dialogue, Chief Minister Jammu and Kashmir State Mr. Ghulam Nabi Azad today said at a mammoth public rally comprising 20,000 people at Arnia just adjacent to the border that his stand and the stand of all peace loving people is authenticated even by known Hurriyat leaders.
Chief Minister emphasized and reiterated his remarks that peace is the key to prosperity and development and it is heartening to note that importance of peace and prosperity has been realized by all.
Azad said that since Congress has taken over at the centre, both UPA Chairperson Mrs. Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh played vital role in bringing normalcy by initiating serious kind of peace process. The situation on the borders when armies of both the countries were on eyeball to eyeball situation has reached to the level that the same borders have now become points of friendship, he added.
Chief Minister lamented on those parties who lack vision, principles and ethics and believe in exploiting sentiments of the people through the instrument of religion. He said that we the people of Jammu and Kashmir state whether Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Buddhists or Christians are living like the same children of one mother and shall not allow at any cost any force to succeed in dividing us in the name of region, religion, caste or creed.
Chief Minister said that since 1947 the people of these border areas of the state have lived in the atmosphere of war and each inch of the soil is soaked with blood. He said the cannons and the guns on the both sides have polluted the total atmosphere with roaring bullets and blasts of explosions. He said last two decades have witnessed more horror in Jammu and Kashmir state which has not given bad name to our state at national level only but at international level as well. He said two decades before Jammu and Kashmir state was ahead of many states in the country in all fields of development, trade and tourism but militancy has deprived the state of its all economical positions and at present we are behind all other states.
Chief Minister said that same militancy and its terror affects are responsible for stopping tourists at national and international level to visit the state particularly Kashmir valley because of which tourist economy came to zero level. He said that at present when foreign Corporators, NRIs and big business groups are investing billions of dollars in other parts of the country no businessman dares to invest a single penny in the state in such situations. He said it is responsibility of all right thinking people to work with courage for restoration of everlasting peace and give befitting defeat to communal and anti-national forces.
Chief Minister said that he is happy to note that peace process started by UPA Chairperson Mrs. Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh has started yielding effective results. He said that holding of roundtable conferences, establishment of working groups and recent successful meetings of our Foreign Minister Mr. Pranab Mukherjee with leaders of Pakistan have given positive direction to the peace process. He said Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and his team have also added a new colour to peace efforts. He said during coming three months dozens of meetings will take place at Indo-Pak level to sort out all pending issues in order to create permanent peaceful atmosphere which is the real desire of the people of Jammu and Kashmir state.
Chief Minister while referring to Roshni scheme, said that after 1950 when Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah enacted land to tillers laws, he said that present Roshni scheme has the similar revolutionary value as ownership of lakhs of kanals will be given to the cultivators on a meager 10% cost of the land. He said even percentage of payment will be lowered 3% more in case payment is given within first three months. He said that keeping in view hartal of patwaris, date of submission of forms which was earlier fixed as 21st January has been extended upto 31st March, 2007. He also announced that a bill in this connection will be brought in the ensuing session of the legislature.
Chief Minister said that amended Roshni is more beneficial for cultivators as compared to Roshni scheme formulated by National Conference in 2001 as farmers were supposed to pay 100% of the market value of the land under their possession as per earlier Roshni scheme.
Chief Minister while appreciating the courage of the people of Arnia said that most of the people living in this area are migrants of 1947, 1965 and 1971 wars. He assured them that all their grievances will be redressed. He also said that the priority of the government is to develop far-flung areas particularly border areas and provide them road connectivity, health, power and education facilities.
Mr. Azad also announced that separate three boards for OBC, SC and ST will be established with separate chairmen so that people of all these categories are able to take due benefits under various schemes. He also assured that steps will be taken for establishing stadium in Arnia and advised Education Minister for taking appropriate steps in upgrading school in the area. |
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