J&K has to be taken along in development: Venkaiah Naidu

Jammu: As Mehbooba Mufti government took charge, the Centre today said Jammu and Kashmir has to be taken forward on the lines of development being pursued at the national level and promised to always stand behind the state.

Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu, who was here to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Mehbooba and her council of ministers, advised the new Chief Minister to follow agenda of her father and predecessor Mufti Mohammad Sayeed to develop the state by taking care of people of all regions and bring peace and prosperity.

“BJP and PDP have formed the government again. It is a good step. It is good for Jammu and Kashmir and also for the country,” said the Minister for Urban Development and Parliamentary Affairs who was representing the Union government at the swearing-in of the PDP-BJP ministry.

Naidu, along with Food Processing Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal and Minister of State in the PMO Jitendra Singh, who were special invitees from the Centre for the swearing-in ceremony, arrived at the event after Mehbooba and Nirmal Singh had completed taking the oath.

“The way the development is taking place across the country under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Jammu and Kashmir has also to be taken forward on those lines of development,” said Naidu, who is a senior BJP leader.

Asked about the challenges to the new government in J&K, he said implementation of the Agenda of the Alliance (AoA), which BJP-PDP coalition partners have formed, is the agenda of this government as well.

He said the government should bring peace and prosperity to the Jammu and Kashmir and work along with the central government for the benefit of the people of the state.

Responding to questions, Naidu said, “The only advise is—follow Mufti Sahib’s agenda which have been finalised by both the parties, develop the state of Jammu and Kashmir, take care the people of all regions and address the problems of the people on priority basis.”

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He said PDP and BJP, rising above their party politics, are determined and committed to focus on the agenda of development.

Jitendra Singh, a senior BJP leader from Jammu, said the country is moving fast on the development journey under Modi and “our concern is only that Jammu and Kashmir should not be left behind this journey of peace, progress and prosperity.”

The MoS in PMO said, “the Centre will always be forthcoming to stand behind the state.”

Jitendra Singh expressed confidence that the new government, which was formed today, will live up to the development plank and take the maximum benefit of the series of developmental schemes and programmes initiated by the Prime Minister.

“The Centre has always been forthcoming in providing all soughts of help and assistance to the state of Jammu and Kashmir and as the PM has said that this is the one of the biggest packages of Rs 80,000 crore.”

BJP National General Secretary Ram Madhav, who played a key role in the formation of the coalition, said “Our government will work with an aim of providing people a good governance, clean administration and development-oriented initiatives as per the Agenda of Alliance and I have full hope of this.”

On the differences over several issues including AFSPA, he said the government will be guided by AoA, formulated a year ago.