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Today we celebrate
the 63rd Independence Day of our great Nation. On this
joyous occasion I convey my greetings and good wishes to the people of
Jammu & Kashmir and pray for peace, progress and prosperity in the
State.
On this auspicious
day, 62 years ago, India attained freedom from colonial rule and the
people of our country became the masters of their destiny. Over six
decades have since gone by while it would be useful to look back and
assess how far we have traveled on the path to building a strong, united
and prosperous India, it would be profitable to also look ahead and
determine new goals.
All in all, the past
62 years have been momentous. Despite serious challenges on varied
fronts, including several attacks on the territorial integrity of India,
we have been able to keep the flame of democracy burning bright. And,
today, India is looked upon as the largest and most vibrant democracy in
the world. Thanks to the firm foundations laid by the first generation
of our visionary leaders, and thanks to the strong resolve and sustained
hard work of our people, our country has been able to secure significant
achievements in different spheres of growth and development. In recent
years India has been well known the world over for its signal
achievements in several fields, particularly in the arena of Information
Technology. And perhaps our biggest achievement has related to
harmonizing our invaluable cultural heritage and traditional values with
science, technology and a liberal and modern approach to life. Truly,
the story of India has been the story of change with continuity.
In the odyssey of
nation building, Jammu & Kashmir has also marched ahead.
Notwithstanding the scars of militancy on the beautiful landscape of our
State, the people of Jammu & Kashmir deserve to be congratulated for
having boldly confronted the subversive and divisive forces with their
abiding commitment to peace and democracy. While the militant
activities have been brought down significantly, the State cannot afford
to lower its guard. Also, the gains of peace need to be further
consolidated through developmental initiatives which are people-driven.
With an all time
high annual plan allocation of rupees 5500 crore for the current year,
rupees 1200 crore under the Prime Minister’s Reconstruction Plan and
access to Centrally Sponsored Schemes valuing about rupees 1900 crore,
a most exciting opportunity has become available for the State
Government to propel the State to a much higher growth trajectory.
It must, however, be
noted that the large scale of resources which have become available to
the State this year would not yield the envisaged outcome unless the
governmental machinery functions with speed, efficiency and honesty to
ensure timely implementation of various important schemes and programmes.
If there are gaps between what the people have been promised and what is
actually delivered to them, the State shall suffer a serious loss of
opportunity and, besides, understandable dissatisfaction and further
loss of people’s trust in the establishment. It is, therefore, of
crucial importance to ensure that the entire focus of the developmental
effort results in bringing about a qualitative change in the lives of
the common people, on a continuing basis.
The people of Jammu
& Kashmir’s vigorous participation in the Assembly Elections last
winter, and in the Parliamentary Elections which followed soon
thereafter, has demonstrated their deep commitment to the democratic
process and, besides, a serious yearning for better governance,
particularly in regard to the resolution of their day-to-day problems
and prompt redressal of grievances.
In the aforestated
context, it is necessary to recognize that it would not be possible for
the State administrative apparatus to timely and efficiently implement
various projects unless there is sustained normalcy. Needless to
observe, the politics of divisiveness and negativism shall result in
seriously disrupting the growth process on all fronts, eroding both
individual and institutional performances. It is, therefore, the
foremost responsibility of the elected representatives of the people,
irrespective of the political party to which they belong, to engender a
stable political environment which fosters communal harmony, peace and
normalcy. It is equally important to ensure that the Legislature is
able to meaningfully deal with its business, providing an orderly
atmosphere for dispassionate and bipartisan discussions on important
issues of governance which would compel the Executive to deliver honest
and efficient governance.
Jammu & Kashmir is
not a mere physical mixture of diverse geo-climatic zones inhabited by
people belonging to varied ethnic groups. With its three distinct
regions, and several sub regions, and the people who live in them, J&K
is an integrated whole whose composite identity, which evolved over
centuries past, must be preserved and protected. It is equally
necessary that, at all costs, we maintain communal and regional harmony
and the bonds of unity amongst the people of all the regions of the
State. Peace and communal harmony must not only be maintained but also
systematically nurtured and progressively strengthened. I would appeal
to each and every citizen of the State to be an active stakeholder in
the extremely important task of deepening and widening the process of
harmonization and synthesis through mutual respect and accommodation for
each other’s sensitivities, concerns and beliefs.
Given the fortunate
availability of sizeable financial allocations, and the vast unexploited
potential of each of the three regions of the State, it is extremely
important that the governmental machinery works with visible efficiency
and honesty to timely achieve the targeted developmental goals. I call
upon Sh. Omar Abdullah, J&K’s young and dynamic Chief Minister, and
members of his Cabinet, the near four lakh public servants comprising
the administrative machinery, and all the people of the State, to join
hands in taking Jammu & Kashmir rapidly on the path of growth and
development and making it an abode of lasting peace and tranquility, for
which it has been known for centuries and centuries past.
Once again, on the
day of our Independence, I greet the people of Jammu & Kashmir and wish
all of them a very bright and happy future.
JAI HIND |
