From President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi to all key Ministers in the Union Cabinet, the Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti discussed the developmental agenda for the State in meetings during her maiden visit to the national Capital after assuming charge in Jammu on April 4.
An official spokesman said that Mehbooba discussed various issues related to development in the State with President Paranab Mukherjee.
Earlier, Ms Mufti called upon the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and discussed the overall political and developmental scenario of the State.
During the meeting, both the leaders deliberated upon several wide-ranging issues concerning the State. The Chief Minister requested for an additional allocation of 4.30 lac metric ton food-grains over and above the Targeted Public Distribution System fixed under National Food Security Act (NFSA).
She also urged the PM to favourably consider the inclusion of the two capital cities of Srinagar and Jammu as Smart Cities in the ‘Smart Cities Mission’ launched by the Urban Development Ministry.
The Chief Minister sought Prime Minister’s intervention in expediting centre’s nod for continuation of special dispensation of 50 per cent in promotion quota in All India Services (AIS) for State service officers for another five years, beyond December 31, 2013. An official spokesman said that the Prime Minister assured Mufti of centre’s full support in the holistic development of J&K State.
Mehbooba also held separate meetings with key ministers in Modi’s Cabinet. While seeking assurances from Defence Minister manohar Parrikar on Handwara killing, the Chief Minister also raised a number of other issues including the handing over certain portions of land not required by the Army to the State so that they can be used for promoting tourism and developing civic, educational and infrastructure facilities in the larger public interest.
She also took up the issue of concrete action by the Defence Ministry on the decisions taken into the civil-military liaison conference besides revision in the rates of rent to different categories of land held by the Army and revision of compensation provided to people affected by Field Firing and Artillery Practices.
In her meeting with the Union Minister for Urban Development M Vankaiya Naidu at his residence, she discussed with him several proposals for upgradation of civic facilities in cities and towns in the State. Mehbooba said both capital cities Srinagar and Jammu should be included in the Smart Cities Mission besides including the forward town of Kargil under the ambit.
Mehbooba discussed with Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj the measures required for broadening the scope of cross-loC trade and travel in J&K so as to make it more vibrant. The cross-loC trade and travel, she said, was close to the heart of her late father and former Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, who often described it as the biggest CBM between India and Pakistan.
The Chief Minister proposed opening of new routes across the loC for better connectivity, which she said will take people-to-people contact beyond the ritual of meetings between divided families.
The increase in Hajj quota in respect of J&K State, keeping in view the large number of applications received for annual pilgrimage this year, was also discussed in the meeting between the two leaders.