- Says Budgetary Allocations According To UT Status
- ‘No Timeline For Statehood Restoration’
Srinagar- Union minister Kiren Rijiju on Saturday said that the Waqf (Amendment) Bill is for transparent management of properties for the benefit of Muslims. “There is no way that anyone can snatch the properties,” Rijiju said.
Rijiju claimed that Andhra Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and his Bihar counterpart Nitish Kumar were on board with the government’s decision.
Asked if Naidu and Kumar were supportive of the bill, the minister replied in the affirmative saying several Muslim MPs too have privately supported it.
“Several Muslim MPs have expressed support (for the bill) while thousands of Muslims, including women, have welcomed it,” Rijiju said.
He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah have made it clear that statehood to Jammu and Kashmir will be restored in due course of time.
However, Rijiju, who holds the parliamentary affairs and minority affairs portfolios, declined to give a timeline for the restoration of statehood to the Union Territory.
“The prime minister and the home minister made clear indications in the past that in due course of time, statehood will be restored (to Jammu and Kashmir) and the powers and functions will be demarcated very clearly,” Rijiju told reporters here.
The Lok Sabha MP from Arunachal West said he would not like to comment on the timeline for restoration of statehood or division of powers between the lieutenant governor and the elected chief minister at this time as his visit to Kashmir was confined to the Union Budget.
“Therefore, I would not like to venture into the political and governance side… I can only say that Jammu and Kashmir is within the status of a Union Territory at this time. The lieutenant governor is the administrative head of the UT but we have also elected a government. We have a very successful government which was elected very recently,” he said.
On the reduction in budgetary allocation for Jammu and Kashmir for the 2025-26 fiscal, Rijiju said the provisions have been made as per the spending capacity of the Union Territory in the current fiscal.
“The budgetary allocations are according to the Union Territory status. The finance minister has made it clear that the allocation is as per spending capacity. She also said whatever money is needed will be provided. It does not include the centrally-sponsored schemes. There is no dearth of resources,” he said.
The minister also said that there was relief for horticulture farmers and handicraft artisans of Jammu and Kashmir in the Budget.
“J&K has a special situation. There is a lot of relief for horticulture and handicrafts. Special mission mode announcements have been made to enhance exports of handicrafts and Kashmiri art,” Rijiju said.
After this Budget, small-scale and medium-scale industries will get a boost in Jammu and Kashmir, he added.
Rijiju also highlighted the provisions of the 2024-25 Union Budget, calling it a significant step towards achieving the vision of a “Viksit Bharat” (Developed India).
“In this budget, India’s middle class has received a major relief as income up to Rs 12 lakh has been made tax-free. This is a big step towards the welfare of the people, allowing the middle class to live without financial hassles,” he said, congratulating the middle-class citizens on the reform.
The Minister further pointed out that the budget has prioritized industrial growth, both for small and large-scale industries, while also taking major steps for farmers. “The Kisan Credit Card limit has been enhanced to Rs 5 lakh, ensuring better financial support for farmers,” he said.
He credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi for prioritizing J&K’s development, stating that PM Modi had instructed his cabinet ministers to engage with the region at the grassroots level. “The day is not far when Jammu and Kashmir will be counted among the most developed places in the world. Over the last decade, I have seen how the region has changed.”
He said, “There is no shortage of resources from the Centre. Earlier, the infrastructure budget was Rs 1,000 crore, but today it has been increased to Rs 11,000 crore,”
Rijiju said that the Centre has put relentless efforts to transform Jammu and Kashmir during the past few years. “The Union Territory has witnessed remarkable infrastructure development, with express highways and railway connectivity linking Kashmir with the rest of the country,” he said. “The events like the Khelo India Winter Games have put the region on the global tourism map.”
The Minister also emphasized that the PM Modi led government has provided a clean and corruption-free administration. “No minister in our government has been found involved in any scam or corruption. If any act of corruption is detected, strict action will be taken. There are no loopholes in governance,” he assured.
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 | |
