Jammu, June 13: Union Minister of State for Home, G Kishan Reddy today said that there was a lot of change in the security situation in the country and the militancy related incidents in J&K were on decline.
Reddy had arrived in Jammu from Delhi to take part in the foundation laying ceremony cum Bhoomi Pooja of Sri Venkateswara Swamy temple at Majeen.
“There is a lot of change in the security situation in the country resulting in a decline in militancy related incidents in J&K,” Reddy told the media on the sidelines of the function.
To a question on development in J&K following abrogation of erstwhile state’s special status and its bifurcation into two Union Territories, the minister said: “We (government of India) had planned many things, but unfortunately could not do due to outbreak of COVID19. The development stopped due to covid situation for over one year.”
He said that 36 Union Ministers conducted a reach-out programme in every village of J&K on directions of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to get feedback on development works.
He said that the government of India had made ample budgetary allocations to both J&K and Ladakh. “However, the covid situation created hindrance in the planned integrated development in J&K and Ladakh UTs,” he said.
He said that the government of India will again concentrate on the integrated development in Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh, as the covid situation ends. “With the blessing of God, we will soon win our fight against covid19 in India and then we will take J&K on the path of development and fulfil the aspirations of the people of the UT under the leadership of Prime Minister. We are committed to development,” he said.
He said that the building of Balaji Temple in Jammu will give a boost to religious tourism and economic activities.
Linking the construction of temples with ‘national integration’, he said, lakhs of people from north India visit south India for pilgrimage at Balaji’s Temple, Tirupati. “The building of the temple in Jammu will be very significant for national integration also,” he said.
He said that the pilgrims visiting Vaishno Devi will also have the opportunity to pay their obeisance at Jammu’s Balaji Temple.