A day after the BJP withdrew support from the PDP government in Jammu and Kashmir leading to the imposition of Governor's rule in the north Indian state, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said that elimination of terrorism from Kashmir was the top agenda of the government.
"We will not tolerate terrorism from across the border at any cost and ensure that peace prevails in Kashmir. If need be, we will answer bullet with bullet. Our aim is to restore peace in that area and for that we will do anything which is required,” the Union Home Minister told reporters at the backdrop of a private function which he attended here on Wednesday.
He said that during Ramzan, the government announced unconditional cease-fire. “We kept our promise and soldiers did not open fire during that period. But now as Ramzan has ended, our target is to ensure that peace prevails in Kashmir. The BJP government is committed to end terrorism. The Centre will not accept any kind of terror activities in Kashmir,” he asserted. “We will not tolerate cross-border terrorism at any cost,” he said, giving a veiled warning to Pakistan.
Rajnath, who represents lucknow in the lok Sabha, earlier spoke at a function where he said that the present NDA government had done good work to ensure better living condition for the poor. “Our aim is to bring happiness in the lives of the poor and for that we are providing basic necessities of life to them,” he said.
He talked at length about different schemes of the Narendra Modi government, namely, Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, Ujjwala Yojana under which free cooking gas connections are given to BPl families, Saubhagya Yojana (free electricity connection to poor) and construction of toilets. "The UP government has implemented these schemes in letter and spirit and the result is palpable," he said.
Meanwhile, state Health Minister Sidharth Nath Singh, who was also present at the function, said that the Centre's health scheme, also known as Modicare, would benefit millions of people. "The scheme will benefit six crore people in UP as they will get free medical facilities," he asserted.