Srinagar: Minister for Science & Technology, Information Technology, Youth Services and Sports Satish Sharma on Sunday said that Jammu and Kashmir would not move forward unless the statehood is restored.
The minister was talking to media persons after inaugurating the first skiing course at the picturesque Sonamarg in central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district.
“I hope Delhi will bless us with the statehood as Jammu and Kashmir is the crown of India and it needs special attention,” Sharma said.
He said Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had gone to meet several people and hopefully good news would come out soon.
“We are waiting for the gift of statehood that would help the administration to create so many opportunities”, the minister said.
In reply to a question Sharma said, “There are fewer resources and somewhere these are very little. We have a Rs 500 mandate and we cannot give an account of Rs 5 Lakh until statehood is restored to Jammu and Kashmir.”
“We pray the almighty to shower blessings on us and hope Delhi people will show kindness by restoring what has been snatched so that we could address all issues of people,” Sharma said, adding “we have to remain positive now, and not to look back, and move forward very carefully.
“We hope after five years Jammu and Kashmir will become the best place in whole India in sports, education and tourism,” Sharma added.
Regarding the skiing courses at Sonamarg, the minister said for the first time the snow skiing course has been started in picturesque Sonamarg adding “these 2 to 3 weeks courses will enable our children to compete at the international level”.
The skiing events were being held earlier in Gulmarg and this is the first time that such courses have been started in Sonamarg also.
He said after Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Sonamarg recently to inaugurate the Z-Morh tunnel, it was formally decided with the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah that Sonamarg would be turned into the “world’s best tourist destination”.
“Today I feel happy to say that the day has come and we started the skiing course here for the first time”, he said adding “We have to take our children away from the drug menace and mobile use to sports events”.
He also said land would be acquired in the vicinity of Sonamarg where a multi-equipped hall will be constructed for conducting several sports courses and a hostel will also come up there for staying.
Regarding the Rehbar-e-Khel teachers, the minister said “I believe most of the work is being done by these Rehbar-e-Khel teachers. I will sincerely try my best to raise it with Delhi for their permanent job”.
