J&K is passing through last phase of militancy: Jitendra

ASSURES TRADERS OF RESOLVING GST RELATED ISSUES

15/10/2017

JAMMU, Oct 14: Union minister Jitendra Singh said today that militancy in Jammu and Kashmir was in its "last phase" and that "militants are on the run".
"They (Militants) are on the run and are under tremendous pressure. I am sure that this is going to be the last phase of militancy in Jammu and Kashmir," he told reporters here.
Singh was replying to a volley of questions on the recent killings of militants in Kashmir Valley.
"Police and security forces are doing a commendable job.
What is more praiseworthy is that the special operation group of J&K Police is cooperating and working shoulder to shoulder in these operations," he said.
The minister said that the security forces had been successful in effecting a positive change in the security situation.
"Life span of every terrorist has been shorten," he said.
Replying to a question about Pakistan making desperate attempts to keep the pot of militancy boiling in the state, Singh said, "This speaks of their (Pakistan) helplessness and despair."
"The longer Pakistan continues to remain in denial mode, the more it is risking its own security and its own existence," he added.
On the Supreme Court judgement on the issue of Rohingya immigrants, the minister said, "As far as the BJP and its government are concerned, we are very clear about it...The security concern is the prime concern for all of us including those of us who have stakes in Jammu and Kashmir, where you have a sizable population of Rohingyas."
He said it was "not the right interpretation" to say that Rohingyas are not to be deported from India.
The Supreme Court "has said that there was security concern and at the same time, there is a human angle that is to be kept in the mind," he said, adding that "judicious view of the entire matter will be taken".
Reacting to the diktat of Majlis Shoura that boys and girls should not study together, the minister said, "Without intruding into anybody's religious prerogative, as far as we are concerned, we believe in policy of justice for all and appeasement to none."
"We live in a democratic country and heterogeneous society, where gender equality is inherent... I think concerned agencies will take cognisance of it," he said.
To a question on separatist leader Asiya Andrabi's photo being showcased in a government poster, he said, "The government has taken serious view of it and taken action also.
It is condemnable."
Singh said the Congress was raising frivolous issues in Gujarat ahead of the assembly polls later this year.
"The Congress was totally demoralised (in Gujarat) and they are trying find various futile issues...When they flagged various futile issues during Rahul Gandhi's three-day visit to Gujarat, I told them this is childish behaviour, which do not mean anything to us," he said.
"As far as (BJP president) Amit Shah and his son are concerned, instead of the opposition's demand for a probe, his son has gone to court with a defamation suit and let them put their views in the court or prove it," Singh said.
In an apparent reference to the industrialists in Jammu who recently threatened to launch agitation over GST incentives, Union minister Jitendra Singh today said anyone having any problem should come forward and be assured that there will be no injustice or discrimination in Prime Minister Naredra Modi-led NDA government.
"Heard people talking about change in the decision over Goods and Service Tax (GST), I want to assure them that this government is democratic in nature and if you have any problem come forward ... we will not hesitate to look into their issues as there is no issue of prestige," Singh, the Minister of State in Prime Minister s Office, said.
Singh was addressing a function organised in connection with the launch of second-phase of Madura promotion campaign.
The first phase of the campaign was launched by Singh in Srinagar on October 5.
On October 12, industrialists in Jammu criticised the Centre for its recently announced incentive scheme under GST regime, saying "if not revisited, it will serve as a death knell for majority of nearly 10,000 units in Jammu and Kashmir and render lakhs of people jobless".
They sought intervention of Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and threatened to pour on roads if the promises made to them prior to the implementation of the GST regime in the state were not fulfilled .
"The most awaited policy of the central government, which was issued through a notification on October 5 under budgetary support for incentives under GST, is nothing but a crude joke with the industrialists in Jammu and Kashmir.
"It is in fact deniable of incentives," leaders of Federation of Industries (FOI), an amalgam of various associations and industrial fraternity, had said.
Citing the example of a father who brings a new pair of shoes to his son, the minister said if the shoe pinches he replaces it with a new pair.
"Under Modi government, there will be no discrimination on creed, caste, religion and regionalism."
"This is a democratic government and gone are the days when families were ruling. We have 18 crore youth who will get the right to vote next year on attaining the age of 18," he said.
"We have to come out of the feudal mindset. There is no chance for discrimination under Modiji because he will never allow it to happen nor will allow anyone to do it," he said.

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