jammu, Oct 22: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha said today that our neighbour (a reference towards Pakistan) doesn’t want democracy to flourish in jammu and Kashmir and has been trying to create trouble but declared that our alert security forces will take revenge of terror acts with interest.
Speaking at a function in the University of Jammu, Sinha without naming Pakistan said a democratically elected Government is in place in Jammu and Kashmir but our neighbour doesn’t like this.
“They have started their efforts (terror attacks). Our security forces are fully alert. They will take revenge of the attacks with interest,” he said.
Asserting that Jammu and Kashmir is now known not for terrorism but tourism, the Lieutenant Governor said the Assembly elections were held in transparent and violence-free manner and an elected Government has been formed under the Indian Constitution.
However, he said, the restoration of this democracy is not being liked by the neighbour.
He didn’t refer directly to Gagangeer terror attack in Ganderbal district of the Kashmir valley on October 20 but the reference was obvious. Seven persons including a doctor from Kashmir and Project Designer from Jammu were among those killed in the attack.
“During last four to five years Jammu and Kashmir has undergone major transformation. Living standard of the people has gone up. The UT is becoming self-sufficient. The GDP (Gross Domestic Product) of Jammu and Kashmir which was Rs 1.17 lakh crore in 2015-16 has reached Rs 2.54 lakh crore in 2023-24. This year, we are expecting the GDP to be around Rs 2.63 lakh crore,” Sinha said.
He said India’s share to world’s GDP in the 11th century was 33 percent while that of United States and other countries was less than one percent.
“And then came the invaders and attackers. Still by 1500, India contributed 25 to 26 percent to world’s GDP as against 5 percent by United States and Europe. However after 1947 and partition, India’s share to global GDP was reduced to just four percent in 1952,” the Lieutenant Governor said, adding that time has changed again and during last 10 years India has again become the fastest growing economy.
He said as per December 2023 estimates of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), India’s share to global GDP has jumped to 15 percent.
“Now, how India’s share to global GDP is again taken to 33 percent should be the target,” Sinha said.
On transformation of Jammu and Kashmir, the Lieutenant Governor mentioned opening of All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), many new Medical Colleges, IIM, IIT and several other Institutes and Colleges in Jammu and Kashmir during last 4-5 years.
“During last five years, Prime Minister Narendra Modi with his commitment to peace, job creation, entrepreneurship, sustainable growth and relentless push for infrastructure development, changed Jammu and Kashmir’s destiny,” Sinha said.
He said National Highways and tunnels to the tune of Rs 1.5 lakh crore are being constructed in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
