SRINAGAR: Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah addressed the Kashmir Mahotsav, organized by the Indian Institute of Sustainability, Gujarat University through video conferencing, today. Several dignitaries including Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh were present on the occasion.
In his address, Shah said that India has been moving forward through coexistence for centuries and Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given the mulmantra of ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat’ along with several initiatives to strengthen coexistence in a country full of diversities. He said that the diverse cultures, languages, cuisines and attires are our strengths.
Shah said that Prime Minister has called upon the countrymen, especially the youth, to imbibe the concept of “Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat” as the mantra of life. He said that Kashmir is the melting-pot of many cultures and a jewel in the crown of Mother India. He said that the changes taking place in Kashmir are important not only for the children of Kashmir, but also for the entire youth of the country.
Shah said that in 2022 around 1.80 crore tourists visited Kashmir, they got to know Kashmiriyat and Kashmir culture and went back with a good message. He said that there was a time when bomb blasts, strike and stone pelting used to happen in Kashmir, but today due to the changes brought under the leadership of Modi, the youth of Kashmir have books and laptops in their hands, they also have a new thinking for start-ups and potential to challenge the youth of the world.
Shah said that after the removal of Article 370 and 35A from Kashmir, for the first time democracy has reached the grassroots level. Today more than 30,000 elected representatives of the people are working in the Panchayat system of Kashmir. He added that the entire nation is happy with these changes brought by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi in the last nine years.
Shah said that by forming the Ministry of Cooperation, Prime Minister is trying to connect every single village with the development system and the poorest of the poor Indian with the economy. He said that Gujarat University is the University of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Dr. Vikram Sarabhai and Narendra Modi, many great personalities have been produced by this university who have made significant contributions for the nation building. The country’s first innovation park was established in Gujarat University and currently it is supporting more than 300 start-ups.
He said that Amul Cooperative Society in Gujarat smoothly functions with the hard-work of over 28 lakh women and its annual turnover is Rs. 60,000 crore. He said that recently the Union cabinet has decided that in the next three years, multi-dimensional primary agricultural credit societies (PACS) will be constituted in two lakh panchayats of the country which will give new dimensions of rural development to the Panchayats. According to the news agency associated news bureau ANB The Shah said that Prime Minister has provided many platforms for the youth across the country. He said that ‘Skill India’ is one such platform which provides a global platform to the power and talent inside the youth. He said that 4000 seats have been created in many new ITIs, more than 20 lakh youth have been trained in 126 streams in 15,000 ITIs. ANB
With Article 370 gone, democracy reached grassroots in Kashmir: Amit Shah
