lauding Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti for her focused approach towards developing better infrastructure in the State, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday reiterated his Government’s commitment to walk shoulder-to-shoulder with the people and help the State Government successfully utilise the Rs 80,000-crore special package.
Modi also quoted former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s famous line, ‘Insaniyat, Kashmiriyat and Jamhooriat’, as he strongly batted for sabka saath, sabka vikas, to realise his dream of carrying forward the growth story of J&K.
“People of Jammu & Kashmir had enormous faith in Atal Bihari Vajpayee… Very few leaders commanded such respect. He used to say ‘Insaniyat, Kashmiriyat and Jamhooriyat are keys to progress of Jammu & Kashmir’. We have to take the State to new heights through these pillars,” he added inviting thunderous applause from the big crowd gathered to attend the inauguration ceremony of a super speciality hospital a state-of-the-art sports complex. Addressing a public rally after the inauguration of
Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Narayana Superspeciality Hospital here, the Prime Minister said former Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed always thought about reducing the gap between Jammu and Srinagar.
“Today I am missing his presence around me. While I was hearing Mehbooba ji, I noticed the enthusiasm with which she spoke of the future of Jammu & Kashmir and her energetic leadership. I congratulate her. She always talks about the development of Jammu & Kashmir when we meet. When such a thought is there, development is bound to happen,” he added.
Earlier addressing an august gathering during the 5th convocation ceremony of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine University, the Prime Minister said India has the power of knowledge to rule the 21st century.
He said that the nation is scaling new heights, and with a youthful population, there is a lot that can be achieved. He said the 21st century is the century of knowledge, and whenever there has been an era of knowledge, India has shown the way.
Referring to the presence of students from different States of the country the Prime Minister said the State is attracting students from all over the country and this gives strength to India.
The PM said that J&K represents a mini India.
“There is a mini-India in Jammu & Kashmir. Dream to do something and not to become someone. He said India has 800 million youth power which is below 35 years. Dream of every youth can become a progress story for the country,” Modi said.
The Prime Minister also exhorted the students to always remember that one of the sources of funding for this university was the donation made by poor pilgrims at the shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi. He said that the students should also take a pledge to do something for the poor.
He said the country’s focus should be a holistic approach on preventive healthcare and wellness.
“We are hosting FIFA U-17 World Cup and this has to be an opportunity for us to celebrate sports. The world should see our ‘yuva shakti’ (youth power),” he said.
The Prime Minister appreciated the girl students for performing exceedingly well academically. He also recalled the feat of Dipa Karmakar, who has become the first Indian woman to qualify for an Olympics gymnastics competition. Modi said sanitation is the key to keep away from hospitals and illness.
Addressing her first public rally in the presence of Modi, Mehbooba Mufti said people in Kashmir are in pain and suffering.
Seeking his cooperation, Mehooba said, “We have witnessed several tragic incidents in the past, like in Baljarala in Rajouri, Chittisinghpora in Anantnag and more recently in Handwara, where innocent people have been fatally caught in the vortex of violence. We need to take immediate steps to bring an end to this permanently.”
“I have great hope and expectations from my party’s alliance with the BJP. My father said on many occasions that when he shook hands with Narendra Modi, he was, in fact, joining hands with a billion people of India who had reposed their faith in his leadership,” she said, promising to pick up the threads from where her father had left them.
Mehbooba Mufti also had a word of appreciation for Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University (SMVDU) for ably demonstrating how endowment money can be channelled back into the society by creating durable assets. “I am happy that SMVDU has become a role model for the rest of the institutes of higher learning to emulate,” she stated.
Addressing students gathering during the 5th convocation ceremony, Mehbooba Mufti urged resident students to take good care of their outstation colleagues so that they leave with sweet memories and become ‘goodwill ambassadors’ of J&K in the rest of the country.
She said our campuses of higher learning symbolise the secular fabric which is at the core of this great nation. “let us make them feel at home. They are our guests. I am sure they will talk about our hospitality and good behaviour and make our children studying in the rest of the country part of their extended families,” she stated.