Says Article-370 Revocation Led To Inclusive Development In J&K
Jammu- The Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) have taken “decisive control” of the fight against militancy in Jammu and Kashmir, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Saturday and asserted that abrogation of Article 370 has resulted in inclusive development .
He also lauded the efforts of the local administration in its crusade against corruption and taking developmental activities to new heights in the Union Territory.
The abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019 resulted in inclusive development of all sections of society, including the deprived. Democracy has also been successfully taken to the village level, he said.
The article, which gave special status to the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir, was revoked by the Centre on August 5, 2019, and the state was bifurcated into union territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
Addressing the 83rd raising day parade of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) here, Shah said after Narendra Modi became prime minister, Jammu and Kashmir has seen a sea of changes as democracy was strengthened and taken to the village level.
“Today, over 30,000 people are elected members of panchayats. There is panch and sarpanch in every village and they are guiding the developmental activities in their villages. Tehsil and district panchayats were formed and the Modi-led government has been successful in taking the Panchayati Raj system to the ground level,” the Union home minister said.
He said the abrogation of Article 370 paved the way for inclusive development of all sections of society.
“Dalits, backward classes, women and pahari-speaking people were deprived of benefits of development in the past but under new laws which were implemented in J&K (after August 2019), everyone is getting benefited,” Shah said.
The home minister said the biggest work done in Jammu and Kashmir is that the CAPFs have taken “decisive control” of the fight against Pakistan-sponsored miltiancy and in the next few years, “I am sure that we will be able to restore peace (in J&K and in naxal and extremism affected areas of the country, including in the northeast), and if it happens, the credit will go to CRPF jawans.
The Border Security Force, the Indo-Tibetian Border Police, the Central Reserve Police Force, the Central Industrial Security Force, the Sashastra Seema Bal are among the CAPFs. Of them, the CRPF is the country largest paramilitary force.
Praising the Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha-led Jammu and Kashmir administration, he said it was successful in bringing industrial investment worth Rs 33,000 crore on the ground, implementing all components of the Prime Ministers Development Package and launching a crusade against corruption by taking action against officials and also improving the system.
He also hailed the administration for achieving 100 per cent saturation in various projects including Har Ghar Nal Ka Jal’ and Har Ghar Bijli’ and said the roads constructed over the past five years to provide connectivity to villages and laying of new highways have set a new record.
Seven new medical colleges, two All India Institute of Medical sciences, 21 water supply schemes and above all the impartiality in every sphere are some of the achievements of the government, he said while congratulating Sinha and his administration.
Calls For Proactive Anti-Militancy Ops
Shah said the security grid should be further strengthened to ensure zero cross-border infiltration and to eliminate militancy completely in order to achieve Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a peaceful and prosperous Jammu and Kashmir.
He appreciated the improvement in the security situation, reduction in militancy-related incidents from 417 in 2018 to 229 in 2021 and decrease in the number of slain security forces personnel from 91 in 2018 to 42 in 2021.
Shah emphasised on proactive operations against militants and denying them safe haven or financial support.
He directed the security forces and the police to ensure real-time coordination for effective counter-militancy operations and monitoring activities of miltiants from jails.
The minister ordered further strengthening of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) in Jammu and Kashmir to counter narco-militancy, the spokesman said.
Praising the CRPF for playing a key role in the fight against militancy in Kashmir, naxalism, and extremist forces in the northeast, Shah asked the paramilitary force to prepare a roadmap for meeting future challenges.
CRPF is not only a central armed police force but every child of the country loves it for its bravery and courage. Whenever riots happen anywhere in the country, the deployment of the CRPF gives satisfaction to the people,” said Shah at the CRPF day parade.
The love and respect earned by the CRPF, the country’s largest paramilitary force, is due to the sacrifices, dedication and devotion of its personnel, Shah said.
“Whether it is naxal-infested regions of central India, Pakistan-sponsored terrorism in Kashmir or extremist forces in the northeast, the CRPF has played a key role in the elimination of such groups and restoring peace in all the three regions, Shah said.
Shah said the CRPF has played an appreciable role across the country and asserted that there will be no need for redeployment of CRPF in the three regions in the next few years.
“I am sure that we will be able to restore peace and if it happens, the credit will go to the CRPF jawans. I am saying it with confidence that ever since Prime Minister Narendra Modi took over, the work done by CRPF is self-explanatory,” he said.
“There was a time in the 1990s when extremism in the northeast and Pakistan-sponsored terrorism in Kashmir was at its peak and everyone in the country was concerned.
Within two decades, the CRPF with its dedication, devotion and determination fought the battle against the anti-national forces who are now on the verge of extinction,” he said.
“As home minister, I congratulate the bravery shown by you in the violence-hit areas of the three regions. It is because of your professional handling of the situation that the countrymen are breathing in a peaceful atmosphere, he said.
The prime minister has set a target of making India a USD 5 trillion economy and it will be achievable when the internal security is strong, Shah said, adding We are satisfied of the role of the CRPF.
I ask the Director General of CRPF Kuldiep Singh to prepare a roadmap to meet upcoming challenges by modernising the force and procuring the latest equipment,” Shah said, adding that the CRPF has to be made a modernised, capable and effective force.
“We have to work in this direction and I am sure the CRPF under the leadership of Kuldiep Singh will take it forward,” he said.
He lauded the CRPF for its contribution in ensuring free and fair elections in the country, saying “Whether it is Lok Sabha or Assembly elections, the force has the biggest role to play. Free and fair elections are the soul of democracy.
The home minister also praised the Rapid Action Force (RAF) and said its handling of riots by using minimum force is a reflection of its training.
If we analyse the riot situation before and after the setting up of the RAF, you will see RAF has emerged as a successful force to deal with the situation. They are now training reserve police battalions in states and they are working together which are providing good results, he said.
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