Says Govt’s Policy Not To Spare Culprits, Not To Harm Innocents
Srinagar- The Union Territory Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha on Saturday minced no words to attack militants, saying that the target killings in the Valley were an act of desperation to provoke government forces to commit a mistake so that people could hit the streets in protest.
“Deepak jab bujhne lagta hai, toh uski love tez ho jati hai (When the flare is about to extinguish, the flames rise-up). This is the situation of militancy currently in Kashmir,” Sinha said, while addressing a gathering in South Kashmir’s Kulgam district on Saturday.
The Valley has witnessed at least 18 targeted killings, including policemen, Kashmiri Pandits, teachers and Sarpanches, since January this year.
Sinha said that the target killings in the valley were an act of desperation on part of the militants to provoke government forces to commit a mistake so that people could hit the streets in protest.
“The society should condemn it. A woman teacher, who imparts education to children, is killed, if the society does not condemn it, then I think, we are shrinking away from our duties”, Sinha said during a function in Kulgam district in south Kashmir.
He further added that the target killings are taking place deliberately in the hope that police and security forces commit a mistake, kill an innocent person, and the people come out on streets to protest. “However, the administration will not let that happen,” he said adding that the “There will be no action against an innocent person by the police, security forces,”
LG further noted that, the J&K administration follows the policy of ‘gunahgaar ko chhodo mat, aur begunah ko chhedo mat’ (Don’t spare the culprit, but do not touch the innocent).
He said the road to progress and development goes through peace.
Calling upon people to condemn such attacks, the LG said that time has come for people to come forward and support police and security forces in their campaign to root out militancy.
Earlier, the LG inaugurated Eklavya Model Residential School and laid foundation stone for a new Tribal Youth Hostel at Kulgam. He also inaugurated the District Civil Services Library cum Reading Room on the occasion.
The LG highlighted the government’s efforts in empowering all the sections of the society, especially those who were neglected for decades, and making them key partners in J&K’s development journey.
“In the last 21 months, we have set in motion a growth process that will be able to eliminate issues like poverty, illiteracy and unemployment in the years to come and turn the weaker section into the wheels of national progress,” he said.
He noted that Cluster Tribal Model Village, livelihood units, infrastructure projects, access to healthcare through new mobile medical units, tribal sub-centres and various other path-breaking initiatives are giving a ray of hope to this disadvantaged section of society.
“Our efforts at making the tribal youth more skilled and capable are going to be the biggest driver of inclusive growth in the future. We are in the process of designing several new schemes. In the long run as tribal community catch up their social indicators, we will ensure that no one is left behind,” Sinha said.
He cited the achievement of Kulgam’s Tanveer Khan, second rank holder in Indian Economic Service (IES) and said the administration would provide the facilities and resources needed to nurture such talents in every household of the Tribal community.
The LG said that the UT administration decided a year ago to instill confidence in the tribal youth by creating avenues for their training and skilling in all modern professions so that they can become an integral part of the changing economic-social system of the world.
“Today 800 youths of tribal community are being trained in various vocational programs. The Tribal Department has started the ‘Wings to Fly’ program for the tribal youth to train them to be pilots, cabin crew and ground staff at the airports,” the LG said.
“In the last financial year a record Rs 31.12 crore was earmarked for scholarships of tribal children and in this financial year it has been increased to Rs 45 crore,” he added.
The LG further said that new hostels, smart schools and other livelihood generation programmes and initiatives such as the establishment of Van Dhan Kendras, Tourist Village Network and Mini Sheep Farms will open new vistas of opportunities for the tribal youth.
“The political reservation for the Tribal community being implemented after decades will prove to be an important step towards social equality and making the tribal community politically empowered,” he said.
He also directed the Tribal Affairs department to ensure that maximum benefit of these schemes reaches the youth of the Tribal community.
Follow this link to join our WhatsApp group: Join Now
Be Part of Quality Journalism |
Quality journalism takes a lot of time, money and hard work to produce and despite all the hardships we still do it. Our reporters and editors are working overtime in Kashmir and beyond to cover what you care about, break big stories, and expose injustices that can change lives. Today more people are reading Kashmir Observer than ever, but only a handful are paying while advertising revenues are falling fast. |
| ACT NOW |
| MONTHLY | Rs 100 |  |
| YEARLY | Rs 1000 | |
| LIFETIME | Rs 10000 | |
