STATE TIMES NEWS
REASI: Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Dr Jitendra Singh dedicated to public here today a 1965 War Memorial, the highlight of which is a monumental ‘Vijanta tank’ which was used by the Indian Forces during the 1965 war against Pakistan. The tank is placed on a platform surrounded by a recreation park. The War Memorial has been funded from MPLAD fund of Dr Jitendra Singh.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr Jitendra said, the whole country observed the Golden Jubilee of 1965 war last year and it occurred to him that if at all there has to be a memorial for 1965 in Jammu and Kashmir, it has to be in Reasi which is known for the sacrifices of patriots over the years. He had a special word of thanks for Chief of the Army Staff, General Dalbir Singh Suhag, whose personal intervention made it possible to transport the Vijanta tank all the way from Delhi to Reasi which was a difficult task and took over two weeks’ time.
Singh said, this War Memorial will not only serve as a recreation and tourist spot, but will also serve as a source of inspiration for youngsters and students when they read its history which is inscribed alongside.
At another function, Dr Jitendra distributed certificates of merit among farmers and inaugurated an agricultural exhibition to commemorate the ongoing ten-day programme of Gram Uday Se Bharat Uday Abhiyan.
Dr Jitendra referred to a number of farmer welfare schemes launched by the Modi government which included the miraculous Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) where a farmer could get his crop insured by paying a mere 1.5 per cent of premium.
Dr Singh said that he has asked the local MLA and the party workers to prepare a list of farmers for whom the premium for crop insurance will be paid from his MPLAD or personal fund.
Taking a dig at the opposition parties, which accused the Modi government of only carrying forward the farmers’ schemes which existed even in their time during UPA rule, Dr Jitendra said, even if that be true, the Congress and the UPA should feel proud that we have successfully carried forward their schemes to a logical conclusion which they could not do in 60 years.
Present on the occasion was a local youth named Dilip Singh, who had lost one of his leg in a road accident and for whom, as a rare gesture, Dr Jitendra Singh had arranged for the latest artificial limb implant followed by limb training by foreign experts, and the whole exercise had cost nearly Rs. 8 lakh.
Responding to Dilip Singh’s acknowledgement, Dr Singh said that it was not a favour to this young man, but as an elected representative, it was his duty to restore the capacity and ability of the youth in order to enable him to use their energy and potential for the service of society and nation.
Minister of State and local MLA Ajay Nanda also spoke on the occasion.
