Union Minister for law, IT and broadcasting Ravi Shankar Prasad said that, Kashmir being an inseparable part of India, while the Indian Army is giving befitting response to Pakistan’s nefarious design the Centre is employing every means to isolate the neighbouring country internationally. He said this while talking to The Pioneer on the sidelines of an awareness programme on World No Tobacco Day held at Parmarth NIketan in Rishikesh on Wednesday. The former State Chief Minister Bhagat Singh Koshiyari and Chidanand Muni were present.
Prasad said that Indian Army jawans are engaged in tackling terrorism being perpetrated by Pakistan. “Their dexterity and valour are worthy of warm appreciation. Pakistan is now isolated at the world forum with the Islamic countries coming out to condemn its act of pampering and funding terrorism. Kashmir was, is and will remain in India,” he affirmed.
Taking a dig at the Congress for its activists having slaughtered a cow in public recently in Kerala, the Union minister said, “This is why the party has reduced itself to one with just 44 seats in the lok Sabha. If it does not mend ways it would be content with just 14 seats in the 2019 lok Sabha elections.”
The founder of Parmarth Niketan Swami Chidanand Saraswati said, “Every year, over 70 lakh people die across the world for consuming tobacco. For India, the figure is 10 lakh. The children are bearing the brunt through passive smoking with their family members taking to tobacco in their presence.”
Ravi Shankar asked the smokers to quit the habit. “This is because it not just affects the functioning of the physical organs but impair their mental abilities,” he said. He also warned the youths against falling prey to drug abuse, saying that the menace must be fought tooth and nail by one and all.