STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh referred to the so-called Prime Minister Anwar-ul-Haq’s statement while describing how Pakistan was misleading the people across the Line of Control to spew venom against India. The statement that PoJK PM made was a sheer reflection of the deep frustration in which Pakistan is caught after the abrogation of Article 370 and vast improvement in Jammu and Kashmir.
It is not only about the changes being witnessed in Jammu and Kashmir after the August 5, 2019 abrogation of Article 370 that demolished all political, economic and psychological walls that characterized the pre- August 5 relationship between Jammu and Kashmir and the rest of India , but also Pakistan had lost its narrative on Kashmir in the international community. An isolated Pakistan is left with nothing but to spread canards against India and its leadership.
Pakistan’s mouthpiece POJK PM raised objections to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Kashmir on Monday – January 13- when he inaugurated multi-billion rupees Sonamarg tunnel that has changed the connectivity landscape of Jammu and Kashmir and that of Ladakh. More than that, it has given a sense of empowerment to the peoples of the two union territories, particularly the Kashmir Valley as vagaries of weather would not hamper their movement and livelihood. In fact their economy is all set to get a boost beyond their imagination.
Sonamarg tunnel has been hailed as engineering marvel. It has made its way through Himalayas. This, in itself is a unique engineering victory against all odds of terrain and weather. This fight against the odds with a huge expenditure running into over Rs. 2700 crore is all meant to facilitate the people. Such developmental projects, which bring with them reduction in distances, boosting economy and opportunities of employment are the real source of empowerment.
NEWS ANALYSIS
Pakistan has a reason to feel sad about it. First, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is committed to reducing ” Dil aur Delhi se duri” in Jammu and Kashmir manifested it by inaugurating the tunnel which has seen light of the day under his rule in its 11th year now . Pakistan has been in overdrive to besmirch the image of the Indian leadership of the day as it believes that Kashmiris are gullible and they would lap all its words. Here, Pakistan has lost all its understanding of the people of Jammu and Kashmir and their psyche.
Prime Minister Modi has enamoured himself to the people of J&K both by his work and words. From the day one, he took over the office of Prime Minister of the country; he has paid an extraordinary attention toward Jammu and Kashmir. His first visit to the state (J&K was a state in 2014) was connected to the development project – he had flagged off train in Katra railway station and also inaugurated the second phase of Uri hydro-electric project. Since then, he has continued to work for the development of J&K, silencing all critics, particularly Pakistan, who had engaged in propaganda that Kashmiris were more interested in political things rather than development – connectivity or others. PM has proved all of them wrong.
The abrogation of Article 370 marked a turning point. Pakistan and some of the vested interests within Kashmir rolled out a loud campaign that Kashmiris would not accept anything done by the Government that scrapped their special position within the Indian union. The reverse happened. People are welcoming all the development projects and have become partners in these without blinking even an eyelid.
There is another reason that Makes Pakistan jittery. It knows what it has done to the people in J&K- bullets were fired at the demonstrators who demanded flour at reasonable rates and electricity generated through dams located on their soil. The civil liberties of the residents have been curtailed where right to demonstrate is curbed through the use of force. Pakistan army is used more often than not in quelling processions.
Pakistan army has also converted POJK into the land of terror-training camps, where terrorists from various parts of Pakistan, and other nationalities converged, to the dismay of the people whose lives have been shattered by the guns. Their lives have become unsafe, and they are worried about the dignity of their womenfolk.
And when the POJK residents see Jammu and Kashmir progressing, getting new projects and empowerment of the people, they develop a natural love for India and this is what makes Pakistan nervous, hence the anti-India propaganda. But the people have seen it all, and they refuse to fall into the misleading trap, because of which Pakistan’s frustration is growing.
