Parliament alone can restore JK’s statehood: Lt Guv
Says polls will be held after delimitation process ends
Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha said that statehood will be granted to J&K after the delimitation process ends and it is the Parliament that can restore the statehood.
Talking to reporters on the side-lines of a function in Kolkata, the LG said that it was the Parliament that snatched statehood of J&K and it’s the same institution that can restore it.
“This is beyond doubt and people across India must have faith in the system. Prime Minister of India and the Home Minister have assured restoration of the statehood to J&K, let’s be patient,” the LG said.
He was speaking at a function of Department of Industries and Commerce J&K and the CII at Kolkata. The function was organised to discuss Industrial ecosystem and investment opportunities in J&K.
About the elections, he said that once the delimitation will end, polls will be held. “Once elections will be held, statehood will restored,” he added.
There has been a demand by the political parties of J&K that statehood should be restored to J&K before the delimitation process ends. However, Centre has made its mind clear giving enough hints that it was mulling to hold polls first and then restore statehood to J&K.
It was on August 5, 2019, Government of India sliced erstwhile state of J&K into two UTs—Ladakh and J&K while it also stripped off the semi-autonomous position of the erstwhile state by rolling back Article 370 and Article 35 A.
Sinha said that the government is determined to push the targets for economic growth and employment in Jammu and Kashmir.
“Our aim is to deepen the trust with business conglomerate, build the industrial base and strengthen the socio-economic stability,” he said while interacting with Industry leaders at Kolkata. He invited them to invest in J&K.
“The Industrial Development scheme outlay is being enhanced to meet the exceeded expectation of Investment in J&K,” he said in a tweet, adding, “The proposed investment has already reached Rs. 31,000 Cr and is expected to cross Rs.51,000 Cr by the end of the financial year.”
In order to facilitate setting up of business enterprises on private land, he said, government is coming up with the rules governing change of land use shortly.
“J&K is determined to push the targets for economic growth and employment. Our aim is to deepen the trust with business conglomerate, build the industrial base and strengthen the socio-economic stability,” he said, adding, “We are in the process of developing a business culture, industrial ecosystem in J&K that has been missing since independence. J&K is on a mission to renovate, reinvent, and ready to take a quantum leap to become the fastest-growing region in the country.”
He said Jammu & Kashmir is all set out on a growth path with high hopes and expectations.
“This is the dawn of new era for growth, development and overall well-being of the people of J&K. Barriers to commerce and trade have also been removed. The people of J&K can now fully enjoy the rights and benefits enjoyed by all other citizens of India rather than just a limited set of rights and benefits,” he said.
Sinha said a strong grassroot democracy has been set up with genuine participation of people at the lowest rungs of governance in Panchayats and Urban Local Bodies. Elaborating on the efforts being made by the UT Government to encourage new investment, and to nurture the existing industries, the Lt Governor said that J&K is one of the best destinations in the country for setting up new businesses as of now with the best incentives and improving infrastructure facilities.
“We are fulfilling all the crucial requirements of the industries including transparent policy of land allotment, private industrial estate development, ensuring ease of doing business, besides the administration has actively worked with solutions approach and introduced around 160 new initiatives and reforms in a short period of time”, the Lt Governor observed.
Promotion of industrial units, providing capital Incentive, a liberal capital Interest subvention, GST Linked Incentive, Ease of Doing Business, development of sector-specific Industrial Estates and Parks, Single Window system, are some of the reforms brought in by the government to unleash the potential of the industrial sector, the Lt Governor added.
The Single Window Portal is being made live with 120 online services. For keeping in sync, the J&K Single Window Portal is being integrated with National Single Window System shortly. Further, J&K shall be the first UT to implement all the 301 business reform action points under Ease of Doing Business initiative of DPIIT by 31st December, 2021, informed the Lt Governor.
Highlighting the immense possibilities presented by Jammu & Kashmir, the Lt Governor observed that the region offers abundant raw material for Agro & Food processing, manufacturing, land, labour, quick and competitive means of transportation. Besides, there is an ‘amazingly easy interface with the government’ through responsive governance & minimum government, in addition to being logistically the most attractive region with industrial land bank, sector-specific policy and international air cargo facility.
In addition, by December, 2022, the train will also reach Kashmir giving alternate all-weather connectivity to the valley, he added.
The Lt Governor further announced that the UT administration has a detailed “What you need” plan ready because we know that everybody wants a return on their investment sooner than later.
“This is the dawn of a new era for the growth, development, and overall well-being of the people of J&K. Barriers to trade and commerce have been removed. The people of J&K can now fully enjoy the rights and benefits enjoyed by all other citizens of India,” the Lt Governor observed. (with inputs from agencies)
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