Calling Pakistan a shelter-home of terrorists, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday warned all those involved in violence to mend their ways or the Government would take stern action against them. Addressing a gathering at a tribal-dominated village in Khunti district of Jharkhand on the occasion of a programme on 70th Independence Day celebrations Rajnath said that those firing at the security forces would not be spared at any cost.
“I am leaving Jharkhand with the message to those who are indulged in violence stop their activities else we will ensure they stop it. Those firing at security forces will not be spared,” he said without naming any group or region.
The Union Home Minister lambasted Pakistan for harbouring terrorists and said that India has given a befitting reply to Pakistan in the recently held SAARC summit. “I was not much willing to go to Pakistan but I saw that they (terrorist) started protesting my proposed visit. Then I made up my mind to visit Pakistan. Even when I was travelling in Pakistan from the airport to hotel I saw protesters on the way. But, I also gave them a befitting reply there at the summit,” he said.
The Union Minister was in Bhagwan Birsa Munda’s birthplace Ulihatu village in Khuti district today to pay his tributes to the Ulgulan (revolution against the British rule) leader and participate in the ‘Jara Yaad Karo Kurbani’ programme being celebrated across India on 70th Independence Day.
Appealing people to participate in the Central government schemes, Rajnath said that the government was focusing on development of one and all. “By 2019 all houses of the country will have toilets. We have to build a secure nation with self respect. And, for this everyone’s participation is important. Bhagwan Birsa Munda fought with social evils too as he continued his fight for independence,” he added.
The Union Minister met the descendants of Bhagwan Birsa Munda and during his speech he called Sukhram Munda, the great grandson of Birsa Munda, and handed him over the microphone to say something. Munda appealed to people to support the government in development works.
Rajnath also praised the greenery of Jharkhand and said people not only from India but from other parts of the world will come to see the beauty of Jharkhand. He also asked people to plant trees to maintain ecological balance.
Earlier, the Union Minister alongwith CM Raghubar Das, Ministers Neera Yadav, CP Singh, NKS Munda, Ramchandra Chandravanshi, former CM Arjun Munda alongwith senior officials of the State and others visited Birsa Munda’s village Ulihatu and paid his tributes to the freedom fighter by garlanding his statue.
He also interacted with the descendants of Birsa Munda and villagers. CM Raghubar Das, on the occasion, announced that all houses of the Ulihatu village will be made ‘pukka’ (concrete) and drinking water will be made available in all houses. He said that the work will begin within a week itself. A 100 bed hospital is also sanctioned for the area, the CM said.
The Union Minister and the CM also laid foundation and inaugurated nine schemes for the development of Khunti distrcit on the occasion.