‘Supporters of terrorists will face consequences.’
By Avtar Bhat
KATHUA, Dec 7: Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh, who holds the Independent Charge of the PMO for Science and Technology, emphasized today that the Narendra Modi Government maintains a firm stance against terrorism, stating that both the terrorists and their ground-level supporters and sympathizers will be dealt with strictly under the law.
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While addressing reporters after a Public Darbar and the inauguration of several road projects, the Minister accused the previous UPA government of stalling development in the Kathua-Doda Parliamentary constituency over the past decade, due to inadequate representation from local public officials.
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Dr. Singh noted that development has accelerated nationwide, with a particular emphasis on J&K, during the last ten years under Modi’s administration. He mentioned that both public representatives and the local community have worked diligently to advance the government’s development agenda.
The Union Minister highlighted that his constituency of Udhampur-Kathua-Doda has achieved notable progress, including one of the highest numbers of roads constructed under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY). He also mentioned the regular Public Darbars held to directly address citizens’ concerns, which led to the quick resolution of various issues.
Although recent elections had temporarily interrupted the Public Darbars, Dr. Singh has resumed them to enhance community engagement and governance.
In response to inquiries regarding the disconnection of water supplies to illegally settled Rohingyas in Jammu, he reaffirmed the government’s decisive stance and commitment to addressing both terrorism and supporting their over-ground affiliates.
To tackle unemployment in the region, Dr. Singh revealed that he had recently met with Army Chief Gen. Upendra Dwivedi to discuss plans for a recruitment drive for local youth in the Army, acknowledging the region’s historical ties to military service. He announced that this drive is preliminarily scheduled for March 2025, following a successful recruitment event in November of this year.
Further illustrating the developmental strides in Kathua district over the last decade, he noted the establishment of a Homeopathic College, ongoing admissions for its inaugural batch, and the development of a Bio-Tech Park in Ghati, Kathua, which aims to boost local employment through public-private partnerships.
Dr. Singh also emphasized the significance of the Gurdaspur-Jammu gas pipeline, describing it as a transformative initiative that will ensure cooking gas reaches households, alongside the benefits from the Ujwala scheme and PM Awas Yojana.
Earlier in the day, he conducted a Public Darbar in Barnoti village, where he inaugurated multiple road projects amidst a gathering of local residents who presented their concerns directly to the Minister. This event marked the second Public Darbar led by Dr. Singh in Kathua within two weeks, and the fourth in recent months.
During the gathering, he reaffirmed the government’s commitment to improving living standards for all citizens, regardless of faith, caste, or background, and detailed ongoing efforts to enhance essential services within local communities.
Dr. Singh noted the expansion of public durbars to block and panchayat levels to ensure governance shortcomings are promptly addressed.
This Public Darbar serves as a comprehensive platform for citizens to directly connect with Dr. Singh for grievance redressal and issue resolutions.
In the past year, he has conducted numerous public durbars across Kathua, Udhampur, and Doda districts.
Earlier, the Union Minister inaugurated three road projects under the PMGSY, including a 14.2 km road connecting Block Boundary Kathua to Boura, which fulfills local residents’ needs for better access to the Mata Sundri temple and other nearby communities, significantly improving connectivity to district headquarters.
Funding for the road was allocated under PMGSY stages I and II, totaling approximately Rs 2,362.17 lakh since its foundation stone was laid in December 2016.
Additionally, Dr. Singh inaugurated another road virtually and highlighted ongoing projects aimed at enhancing connectivity and infrastructure development across the region, reinforcing Kathua’s potential as a commercial hub in North India, which offers myriad opportunities for local youth.
