J-K CM says strengthening INDIA bloc responsibility of its largest partner, demands immediate statehood
CM Abdullah arrived in Kolkata on Wednesday to take part in the Travel and Tourism Fair (TTF) travel trade show.
Abdullah remarked that the alliance has not met formally since the post-Lok Sabha election meeting held at Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge's residence in New Delhi.
'The responsibility to strengthen the INDIA alliance is neither mine nor Mamata Banerjee's. This responsibility belongs to the biggest partner of the INDIA Alliance. I have said multiple times that it is unfortunate that we don't meet. The last meeting was held right after the elections at Mallikarjun Kharge's residence. There has been no meeting since then,' he said.
Abdullah also spoke strongly about the need to restore full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, calling the Union Territory status imposed in 2019 a 'huge betrayal.'
Abdullah said, 'Unfortunately, being a Union Territory, the security of the state is not our responsibility. We want that responsibility to be ours. Our government should be given the responsibility of J&K as soon as possible. We don't want to be a Union Territory. Making us a Union Territory was a huge betrayal to us.'
He emphasised that the BJP and the Central government had committed to restoring statehood to Jammu and Kashmir
'The Central government and the BJP are promise-bond to make J&K a state again. This should not be delayed now. We should be given the statehood as soon as possible and we should have the responsibility of the security of the state,' he said.
Earlier on Thursday, Abdullah attended a conference with West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in Howrah, expressing gratitude for her empathetic stance during Kashmir's trying times and sowing seeds for a promising partnership in trade, tourism, and industrialisation that could soon transform the scenic landscapes of J&K into a hotspot for West Bengal tourists.
'I thank West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee for her sympathy towards the people of J&K. In 2019, during a challenging political period, Didi expressed her concerns, stating that whatever was happening was wrong. After the Pahalgam attack and Operation Sindoor, Didi sent a team from here to assist those affected by the shelling,' Omar said during a joint press conference.
CM Abdullah was referencing the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, which led to the removal of Jammu and Kashmir's special status; the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed the lives of 26 Indian tourists; and the subsequent retaliatory Operation Sindoor. (ANI)
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
23 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Cong's ‘appeasement' politics led to Partition: Adityanath
Chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday said that the 1947 Partition was a dark chapter 'born out of appeasement politics of the Congress party' that shattered Sanatan Bharat's unity and inflicted deep wounds on the nation. Chief minister Yogi Adityanath, deputy CMs Brajesh Pathak and Keshav Prasad Maurya, and others at the Partition Horrors Remembrance Day exhibition in Lucknow on Thursday. (HT Photo) He credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi with reviving this forgotten history by declaring August 14 as Partition Horrors Remembrance Day in 2021. 'Today, the entire country mourns, remembering the horrors of August 14, 1947,' Adityanath said while inaugurating an exhibition on the occasion at GPO Park in Hazratganj. Continuing his attack, Adityanath said that while revolutionaries willingly embraced martyrdom for India's freedom, the Congress divided the nation in its 'greed for power'. 'The Congress's policies led to the ethnic cleansing of Hindus, Sikhs and Buddhists in places like Lahore, Karachi, Rawalpindi and Multan in West Pakistan,' the chief minister said., 'The violence claimed 15-20 lakh lives and displaced crores, marking one of the darkest episodes in history,' he added. He further accused the then Congress government of showing complete apathy towards those displaced. 'No memorials were built and no museums were established in remembrance of Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains and Christians who were forced to leave their ancestral homes. Their suffering was erased from public memory,' Adityanath said. He praised PM Modi for granting citizenship and rehabilitation rights to refugees through the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), noting that for the first time, displaced people in Jammu and Kashmir and other regions received citizenship and began contributing to India's development. 'The Congress never made any sincere effort for their rehabilitation,' the CM said. Paying homage to the victims, Adityanath announced that the state government will provide land on leases and full rehabilitation to eligible families under the CAA. 'We are committed to protecting their rights and ensuring their dignity,' he affirmed. Emphasising the importance of connecting the younger generation with history, Adityanath said the exhibition portrays the grim reality of Partition, the massacres, riots, and forced migrations. 'Under Prime Minister Modi's leadership, this initiative is healing old wounds and awakening future generations to historical truths.' the CM said. Deputy CMs Keshav Prasad Maurya and Brajesh Pathak, cabinet minister Swatantra Dev Singh, and BJP state president Bhupendra Chaudhary among others were present on the occasion.
Indian Express
23 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Independence Day President Speech Full Text: From Op Sindoor to Shubhanshu Shukla's space journey – Here's what Murmu said
Independence Day President Speech: On the eve of India's 79th Independence Day, President Droupadi Murmu said the nation is on the path to becoming self-reliant and is progressing with great confidence. Citing a GDP growth rate of 6.5 per cent in the last fiscal year, she noted that India remains the fastest-growing major economy in the world. She also hailed the completion of the rail link in the Kashmir Valley as a significant achievement that will boost trade and tourism. The President also used the opportunity to highlight India's strides in self-dependence in defence manufacturing. 'Operation Sindoor was also a test case of the Atmanirbhar Bharat mission in the defence sector. The outcome has proved that we are on the right path. Our indigenous manufacturing has achieved the critical level that makes us self-sufficient in meeting many of our security requirements,' Murmu said. She also hailed Shubhanshu Shukla's space journey to the International Space Station, which has 'fired a whole generation to dream bigger'. The journey 'will prove extremely helpful for India's upcoming human space flight program, 'Gaganyaan',' she said. My Dear Fellow Citizens, I extend my heartiest greetings to all of you on the eve of Independence Day. It is a matter of pride for all of us that Independence Day and Republic Day are celebrated by every Indian with zeal and enthusiasm. These are the days that especially remind us of our being proud Indians. The fifteenth of August is a date etched in our collective memory. During the long years of colonial rule, generations of Indians dreamt of the day of independence. Men and women, old and young, from all parts of the country, yearned to throw away the yoke of foreign rule. Their struggle was marked by robust optimism, which has continued to propel our progress since Independence too. As we salute the tricolour tomorrow, we will also be paying homage to the memory of all freedom fighters whose sacrifices won India Independence on the 15th of August, 78 years ago. After regaining our freedom, we also became a democracy with universal adult franchise. In other words, we the people of India put the power to shape our destiny in the hands of each of us, without any restrictions of gender, religion and other factors that had barred many people from voting in other democracies. In spite of many challenges, the people of India made a successful transition to democracy. The transition was a natural reflection of our ancient democratic ethos. India had the oldest republics in the world. It is rightly acknowledged as the mother of democracy. When we adopted the Constitution, it provided the edifice of democracy. We built democratic institutions that strengthened the practice of democracy. We prize our Constitution and our democracy above everything else. As we look back on the past, we must not forget the pain inflicted by the Partition of the country. Today we observed Vibhajan Vibhishika Smriti Diwas. Terrible violence was witnessed, and millions were forced to relocate due to Partition. Today, we pay tributes to the victims of the follies of history. Dear Fellow Citizens, Our Constitution contains four values as the four pillars upholding our democracy. They are – justice, liberty, equality and fraternity. These are our civilisational principles that we re-discovered during the Freedom Struggle. At the heart of them all, I believe, is the notion of human dignity. Every human being is equal, and everyone deserves to be treated with dignity. Everyone should have equal access to healthcare and education. Everyone should have equal opportunity. Those who had been traditionally at a disadvantage needed to be given a helping hand. Keeping these principles foremost in mind, we started a new journey in 1947. After the long years of foreign rule, India was in utter poverty at the time of Independence. But in the 78 years since then, we have made extraordinary progress in all fields. India is well on the way to becoming a self-reliant nation and is moving ahead with great confidence. In the economic field, our achievements are all the more noticeable. With a GDP growth rate of 6.5 percent in the last fiscal, India is the fastest growing among the major economies in the world. Even amid stress in the global economy, demand at home is pacing ahead. Inflation has remained under control. Exports are rising. All key indicators show the economy in the pink of health. This is as much due to carefully calibrated reforms and sagacious economic management as due to the hard work and dedication of our workers and farmers. A large number of people have been pulled out of poverty through good governance. The government has been running a series of welfare initiatives for the poor and also for those who have risen above the poverty line but are still vulnerable, so that they do not fall below it again. This is reflected in the rising expenditure on social services. Income inequality is reducing. Regional disparities are also disappearing. The States and regions, earlier known for weaker economic performance, are now showing their true potential and catching up with the front-runners. Our business leaders, small and medium industries and traders have always exhibited a can-do spirit; what was needed was removing the bottlenecks in the path of wealth creation. That is so visible when it comes to infrastructure development over the past decade. We have expanded and strengthened the National Highway network under the Bharatmala Pariyojana. The Railways too have innovated, introducing new types of trains and coaches equipped with latest technologies. The inauguration of the rail link in Kashmir valley is a major accomplishment. Rail connectivity with the valley will boost trade and tourism in the region and open new economic possibilities. This engineering marvel at Kashmir is a historic milestone for our country. The country is rapidly urbanizing. Hence, the Government has been paying special attention to improve the conditions of the cities. Addressing the key area of urban transport, the Government has expanded metro rail facilities. The number of cities with a metro rail service has gone up multifold in a decade. The Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation, or AMRUT, has ensured more and more households have access to a tap with the assured supply of water and a sewerage connection. The Government considers the basic amenities of life as rightful claims of the citizens. The Jal Jeevan Mission is making progress in providing tap water supply to rural households. In the healthcare sector, we have been witnessing a paradigm shift with a variety of initiatives under Ayushman Bharat, the largest healthcare scheme of its kind in the world. This scheme has already provided cover to more than 55 crore people. The government extended this benefit to all senior citizens of the age of 70 years and above, regardless of their income. As inequalities in access are removed, the poor and the lower middle-class also benefit from the best possible health-care facilities. In this Digital Age, it is apt that one sector in India that has seen the most dramatic advances is information technology. Nearly all villages have 4G mobile connectivity, and the remaining few thousands will be covered soon. This has made possible large-scale adoption of digital payment technologies, in which India has become a world leader in a short span. It has also supported Direct Benefit Transfer, which ensures that welfare benefits reach the intended beneficiaries without glitch and leakage. More than half of the total number of digital transactions in the world take place in India. These developments have created a vibrant digital economy whose contribution to the country's GDP is increasing year on year. Artificial intelligence is the next stage of technological advancement and has already entered our lives. The government has launched the India-AI mission to strengthen the country's AI capabilities. It is also helping to build AI models that answer to India's specific requirements. As we aspire to become a global-AI-hub by 2047, our focus will remain on making the best use of the advances in technology for the common people, to improve their lives by improving governance. For betterment of the lives of the common people there is equal emphasis on improving the ease of doing business as well as on improving the ease of living. Development serves the purpose only when it helps those on the margins and opens new opportunities for them. Moreover, we are increasing our self-reliance in every area possible. This has added to our self-confidence and increased the momentum of our journey towards becoming Viksit Bharat. Last week, on August 7, the country celebrated 'National Handloom Day' which honours our weavers and their products. Since the year 2015, we have been celebrating this day to commemorate the Swadeshi Movement launched during our freedom struggle in the year 1905. The spirit of Swadeshi was strengthened by Mahatma Gandhi to promote the products made by the sweat and toil of Indian artisans and crafts-persons, and by their incomparable skills. The idea of Swadeshi has been inspiring our national endeavours like Make-in-India initiative and Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan. Let us resolve to buy and use Indian products. Dear Fellow Citizens, The all-round economic growth complemented by social sector initiatives has placed India well on the path of becoming a developed economy by 2047. With the nation marching ahead during the Amrit Kaal, I see all of us contributing to the best of our ability. I believe, there are three sections of society that will lead us on this path – youth, women and the communities that had for long remained on the margins. Our youth have finally found the right environment for the realisation of their dreams. The National Education Policy has brought in far-reaching changes, aligning learning with values, and skills with tradition. Employment opportunities are booming. For those with entrepreneurial aspirations, the Government has created the most conducive ecosystem. Fueled by young minds, our space program has witnessed unprecedented expansion. I am sure that Shubhanshu Shukla's space journey to the International Space Station has fired a whole generation to dream bigger. It will prove extremely helpful for India's upcoming human space flight program, 'Gaganyaan'. Brimming with a new confidence, our youth are making a mark in sports and games. Chess, for example, is now dominated by India's youngsters like never before. We foresee transformative changes which will establish India as a global sporting power-house under the vision contained in the National Sports Policy 2025. Our daughters are our pride. They are breaching barriers in every field, including in the areas of defence and security. Sports are among important indicators of excellence, empowerment and potential. A nineteen-year-old girl and a thirty-eight-year-old woman from India were the finalists in the FIDE Women's World Cup for chess championship. This underlines the sustained and globally comparable excellence across generations among our women. The gender gap in employment has also been reducing. With 'Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam', the empowerment of women is no longer a slogan but a reality. People belonging to a major segment of our society comprising Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Backward Classes and other communities are shedding the tag of the marginalised. The Government has been actively helping them to realise their social and economic aspirations with several initiatives. India is moving ahead at a faster pace towards realizing its true potential. As our reforms and policies have created an effective platform, I can see a bright future ahead in which every one of us will be energetically contributing to the prosperity and happiness of all of us. We are moving ahead towards that future with sustained good governance, and zero tolerance for corruption. Here I am reminded of an important statement by Mahatma Gandhi. He had noted, and I quote: 'Corruption and hypocrisy ought not to be inevitable products of democracy.' Let us pledge to realise Gandhiji's ideal and weed out corruption. Dear Fellow Citizens, This year we had to face the scourge of terrorism. Killing innocent citizens on holiday in Kashmir was cowardly and utterly inhuman. India responded in a decisive manner and with steely resolve. Operation Sindoor showed that our armed forces are prepared to meet any eventuality when it comes to guarding the nation. With strategic clarity and technical capability, they destroyed terrorist hubs across the border. I believe, Operation Sindoor will go down in history as an example in humanity's fight against terrorism. In our response, what was most noticeable was our unity, which is also the most befitting response to those who wanted to divide us. Our unity was on display also in the multi-party delegations of the Members of Parliament that reached out to various nations to explain India's position. The world has taken note of India's stance, that we will not be the aggressor, but we will not hesitate to retaliate in defence of our citizens. Operation Sindoor was also a test case of the Atmanirbhar Bharat mission in the defence sector. The outcome has proved that we are on the right path. Our indigenous manufacturing has achieved the critical level that makes us self-sufficient in meeting many of our security requirements. These are landmark achievements in India's defence history since Independence. Dear Fellow Citizens, I would like to take this opportunity to urge all of you to do what you can, to protect the environment. To respond to the challenge of climate change, we must also change. We must change our habits and our world-view. We must change our relationship with our land, rivers, mountains, and with flora and fauna. With contribution from all of us, we will leave behind a planet in which life will be flourishing in natural order. Dear Fellow Citizens, I have in mind especially the soldiers guarding our borders, and the police as well as Central Armed Police Forces. I extend my greetings to the members of the judiciary and the civil services. My Independence Day greetings to the Indian officials in the missions abroad and also to the Indian diaspora! I once again extend my greetings for Independence Day. Thank you. Jai Hind! Jai Bharat!
The Hindu
23 minutes ago
- The Hindu
BJP accuses Congress govt. of ‘smear campaign' against Dharmasthala, Heggade
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday questioned the manner in which the Special Investigation Team (SIT) was conducting a probe into the alleged case of mass burials at Dharmasthala and accused the Congress government of a 'smear campaign' against the Dharmasthala temple and its pattadhikari D. Veerendra Heggade. Former Minister V. Sunil Kumar, who initiated the debate in the Legislative Assembly, alleged that under the pretext of the probe, the government had 'hatched a conspiracy' to spread falsehood against Hindu dharma and the place. Not a single FIR had been filed despite hundreds of social media posts 'slandering' the temple, Shri Manjunatha Swamy, and Dr. Heggade, he said, and questioned the government's silence. There had been a deliberate smear campaign by certain individuals and the government's apparent sympathy towards them has raised suspicion, the BJP leader claimed. Stating that no one was opposing justice for Soujanya, who was murdered in 2012, he said some YouTubers, in the name of freedom of expression, were attacking religious beliefs. The BJP member questioned the government's 'agenda' behind the probe and suspected the role of the INDIA bloc and the Congress high command in the entire episode. Leader of the Opposition R. Ashok, members S. Suresh Kumar, Araga Jnanendra, B.Y. Vijayendra, Harish Poonja, S.R. Vishwanath, Aravind Bellad (all BJP), and Basanagouda R. Patil Yatnal spoke against the government and demanded continuation of SIT probe to identify the people, organisations, and alleged source of funding behind the 'smear campaign' against the temple. Mr. Suresh Kumar claimed the SIT had 'no common sense' and it has been dancing to the tunes of the complainant. Mr. Ashok claimed there was 'a gang' behind the complaint and it had put pressure on the Chief Minister to order the probe. Terming the mask-wearing person (the complainant) as 'Spiderman' who had been enjoying all privileges and was provided security, he said lakhs of taxpayers' money had been spent on the digging. He demanded a NIA probe to nab groups supporting the complainant and sponsoring the 'smear campaign'. Mr. Poonja, who represents Belthangady, demanded that the SIT report be made public. Mr. Jnanendra said the police should have conducted a preliminary probe of the complainant before starting the digging. Mr. Yatnal warned a 'Ayodhya-like movement will be launched' if the government did not stop. All BJP members demanded a halt on the social media posts, a narco test of the complainant, and tabling of the interim probe report. SIT probe aimed at revealing truth: Home Minister In reply to the Opposition's remarks against the government, Home Minister G. Parameshwara said the probe 'should not take a political or a dharmic turn.' In a terse reply to the Opposition, he said: 'We have not formed SIT under any pressure. The probe is aimed at unearthing the truth and ensuring justice. We have huge respect for Dharmasthala.' The government has given a free hand to the SIT and action would be taken against any persons who launch false campaigns. He noted the rural development and women empowerment projects, education provided to lakhs of students by trusts headed by the pattadhikari and asked BJP members: 'Don't you need a probe for Dr. Heggade to come clean? Truth will come out as per the framework of the law.' The Home minister is expected to provide a detailed reply on Monday.
