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Created: 15 March 2020

NEW DELHI: Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah met a 24 member delegation from Jammu & Kashmir’s  Apni Party led by Shri Altaf Bukhari in New Delhi today and assured them that the NDA Government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi will take all steps for the overall development of Jammu and Kashmir. He expressed confidence that visible changes will be seen on the ground in the next few months.

Shri Shah after engaging with the delegation on about 40 odd issues raised by them emphasised that there is no intention of the Government for demographic change in the region and all such talks have no basis at all. He said that the Government will work with all sections of the society to realize the hopes of statehood for Jammu and Kashmir at an early opportunity. Shri Shah said that Prime Minister in his address to the nation after abrogation of Article 370 said this and even he, himself in his speech in Lok Sabha on 6th August, 2019 expressed the same. The Home Minister said this is also good for India’s interest, as the region is a border area.

Allaying the apprehensions of the delegation on restrictions, Shri Shah said all decisions on relaxations are based on ground realities and not due to any pressure. He referred to steps like release of people from preventive detention, restoration of internet, relaxation in curfew and added that even political prisoners will be freed in times to come as the main objective of the government is that not a single person should die, be it a common Kashmiri or security personnel. The Home Minister assured the delegation that Jammu and Kashmir will have a better domicile policy than other states in the country and said that a reasonable Economic Development Policy will be drafted soon after widespread consultation. He emphasised that there is no discrimination in implementation of Central Laws in Jammu and Kashmir and interests of all sections will be taken care of.

The Home Minister told the delegation that soon an Industrial Policy will be announced for rapid economic development and a Land Bank has already been created. He said, for the last 70 years, J&K attracted Rs 13,000 Crore and expressed hope that by 2024 three times more investment will come in the region as there is huge potential for the same and investors are also willing to come forward. This will also solve the problem of unemployment in the region, he added.

On the issues of reservation, the Home Minister said that a Commission will be set up soon and reiterated that no injustice will be done to Gujjars, nomads and other communities. On the issues concerning J&K Bank, he assured the delegation to personally look into the issues. He assured that issues relating to general administration will be resolved on a fast track basis. Shri Shah said that he will also ask the LG to appoint a Senior Nodal Officer to meet the people twice in a week to address their grievances. He also asked the delegation to provide feedback to the nodal officers in Ministry of Home Affairs. Shri Shah said his government is open to suggestions and feedback from all political parties and individuals for overall development of Jammu and Kashmir.