Noting that after the abrogation of the provisions of Article 370 of the Constitution, new entitlements have ushered in for the people of J&K, President Ram Nath Kovind today said his government is committed to countering all forces challenging India’s sovereignty and unity and is taking strong action against those inciting violence in the country.

Addressing a joint sitting of both Houses of Parliament on the first day of the Budget Session, Kovind said, “My government is committed to counter the forces challenging the sovereignty and unity of the country at every level. While on one hand development is being promoted in violence-affected areas, on the other hand, firm action is being taken against the forces inciting violence.”

The President also underlined that because of the government’s twin approach the number of incidents involving Naxal violence has declined and the Naxal-affected area is shrinking.

“After the abrogation of the provisions of Article 370, the people of J&K have been empowered with new entitlements.... The development-oriented policy of the Central Government has also received wholehearted support from the people of J&K. Only a few weeks ago, the elections to district councils in J&K were held successfully for the first time after Independence,” Kovind said.

The President said the large-scale participation of voters in the District Development Council polls in the UT has shown that J&K is forging ahead towards a new democratic future at a rapid pace and the grant of new entitlements has empowered the people of the region.

“After the implementation of the Ayushman Bharat Health Scheme, every family of J&K is assured of free treatment worth Rs 5 lakh. A Bench of the Central Administrative Tribunal has also been established in Jammu,” he said.

Kovind said after becoming a UT, elections to the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Council were held successfully a few months ago and now the people of Ladakh are themselves taking decisions related to the development of their region expeditiously.

Courtesy: Daily Tribune: 29th January 2021