New Delhi: The Union Home Ministry (MHA) on Tuesday has reiterated that no political leader is under house arrest in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
Making the statement in the Lok Sabha, Minister of State for Home G Kishan Reddy said that after the constitutional changes and reorganisation of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir, the union territories of JK and Ladakh have been fully integrated into the mainstream of the nation.
He said that given the constitutional changes effected by the Parliament, various measures were taken to maintain public order which included preventive detention of certain people. "As on September 11, 223 people are under detention," Reddy said.
He said that as a result of constitutional changes, "all the rights enshrined in the Constitution of India and benefits of all the central laws that were being enjoyed by other citizens of the nation are now available to the people of Jammu and Kashmir."
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Reddy said that the changes have brought about socio-economic development in both the UTs.
"Empowerment of people, removal of unjust laws, bringing in equity and fairness to those discriminated since ages who are now getting their due along with comprehensive development are few of the important changes that are ushering of the UTs towards the path of peace and progress," said Reddy.
He said that an amount of Rs 30,757 crore has been allocated in the financial year 2020-21 for the region.
"Under the Prime Minister development package announced in 2015 for the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir, Rs 80,068 crore continue to be spent for 63 major development projects (54 in JK and 9 in Ladakh) in road, power, health, tourism, agriculture, horticulture, skill development sector act," he said.
Meanwhile, Reddy stated that terrorists are making regular attempts for infiltration in JK with support from across the border. The security agencies have recorded 176 infiltration attempt, of which, 111 were successful since August 2019 to July this year. He said that 79 terrorist incidents have taken place in JK from August 5, 2019, to March 10 this year. 49 terrorists have been neutralised in such incidents. Ironically, after the Pulwama attack on February 2019, as many as 82 security personnel have lost their lives in the fight against terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir.
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