If there had been better relationship, would have given more money than IMF: Rajnath to Pakistan
Srinagar, Sep 29: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday said India would have given a larger bailout package to Pakistan than sought by Islamabad from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) had the neighbouring nation maintained friendly relations with New Delhi.
Addressing an election rally in Gurez assembly segment of Bandipora district, Singh referred to the prime minister's development package for Jammu and Kashmir announced in 2014-15 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
"Modi ji in 2014-15 announced a special package for development of Jammu and Kashmir which has now reached Rs 90,000 crore. The amount is much bigger than what Pakistan was seeking from the IMF (as bailout package)," the senior BJP leader said.
Singh referred to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's famous statement that "we can change friends but we cannot change the neighbours".
"I said, my Pakistani friends, why have strained relations, we are neighbours. If we had good relations, we would have given more money than the IMF," he added.
Singh said the Centre gives money to Jammu and Kashmir for development while Pakistan has been misusing financial aid for a long time.
"It seeks money from other countries to run a terrorism factory on its soil," he added.
The defence minister said Kashmir will again become a paradise on earth when Vajpayee's dream of restoring "Insaniyat, Jamhooriyat and Kashmiriyat" in the valley is achieved.
Singh said Pakistan, which has used terrorism as a tool against India, has been isolated at the international forums with some of its trusted allies also stepping back.
"Whenever we have investigated terrorism, we have found Pakistani involvement. Our successive governments have tried to make Pakistan understand that they should stop terror camps but to no avail. Pakistan is frustrated after revocation of Article 370 and is making attempts to revive terror. They do not want democracy to take roots here. (But) India is strong enough that it can take on Pakistan on its soil. If anyone in Pakistan carries out an attack on India, we can crossover and respond," he added.
Singh said Pakistan has been isolated now.
"Even Turkey, which used to support Pakistan, has not made mention of Kashmir at the UNGA," he added.
The BJP leader said since his party's government came to power at the Centre, peace has returned to Jammu and Kashmir.
"The business of terrorism is not going to last very long now," he added.
Reiterating the promises made in the BJP’s election manifesto, Singh said, "As the defence minister, I assure you that if (BJP candidate) Faqeer Mohammad Khan wins, more people from Gurez will be recruited in the Indian Army."
He said the biggest demand put forth from Gurez is construction of a tunnel through the Razdan pass that will establish all-weather connectivity with the rest of the country.
Electricity is supplied round the clock, internet towers have been installed. Roads have become better and they will be further improved, he added.
"As the defence minister of the country, I assure you that after polls I will bring the concerned minister here to discuss it," he said.
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Leopard picks up three-year-old child from outside house in New Tehri, body found in bushes
New Tehri, Sep 29: A man-eating leopard killed a three-year-old child after picking him up from outside his house here while he was playing with his cousins, with officials saying his mutilated body was found in bushes nearby.
The officials said the incident happened at Purwal village around 5 pm when Ankit Kumar's son Raj Kumar was playing in the courtyard of the house with his maternal uncle's children.
Bhilangana Range Officer of Tehri Forest Division Ashish Nautiyal and Purwal village head Sanjay Tiwari said the child stepped out while playing and went behind the house where a leopard was already sitting in ambush.
The animal picked up the child and dragged him away.
Not finding her son around in the house, Manju Devi started searching for him. Later, her neighbours also gathered there, but the child could not be found.
Meanwhile, somebody noticed blood stains on the road behind the house.
The blood stains led people to the bushes from where the child's mutilated body was recovered, the officials said.
