Amit Shah Meets People from Troubled Jammu and Kashmir
Amit Shah Meets People from Troubled Jammu and Kashmir
India’s Minister of Home Affairs Amit Shah met three different groups of representatives from Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) on Tuesday (September 3).
This was his first meeting with the representatives of sarpanches (village heads) from various districts of J&K after the abrogation of Article 370. He also met representatives of fruit growers, agricultural marketers, and some members of local horticulture associations. He also met the representatives of the community of people displaced in the partition.
According to a government statement, all three delegations congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Union Home Minister for the courageous step of abolishing Article 370 and 35A.
Shah informed the delegation of sarpanches that henceforth the provisions of the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendment Acts would be applicable to J&K and this would serve to empower local governance and Panchayati Raj institutions in J&K.
On the issue of mobile connectivity and restoration of communications, the Union Home minister said that the issue would be expedited and that a solution would be found as quickly as possible.
Greeting the sarpanches, Shah hailed them as the leaders of J&K and said that it would be their responsibility to ensure that the benefits of various government schemes reach the correct beneficiaries and that an atmosphere of peace and prosperity is maintained.
He promised to begin recruitment for various government jobs at the earliest and said that the government would ensure merit-based recruitment of at least five aspirants from each village.
Shah clarified that the statehood of J&K would be restored as soon as the situation warrants, and asked the representatives to not believe any rumours. He reassured the representatives that nobody’s land would be taken away and government land would be used for the establishment of industries, hospitals, and educational institutions.
This would not only create employment opportunities for the locals but also enhance tax revenues for the state, which in turn would be used for the welfare of the people.
Shah promised to begin the process of Block-level elections as quickly as possible. He told the representatives that their fight is against terrorism and they should ensure an atmosphere of peace in J&K at the earliest.
