Will fulfill all promises made to Kashmiri Pandits: Nirmala Sitharaman in Lok Sabha
India Today
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman addressed the House after Lok Sabha MPs debated the J&K budget. In her reply, the finance minister talked about assistance provided by the government to the Kashmiri Pandits.
Amidst the debate over the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits from the Valley, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the budget for Jammu and Kashmir on March 14 as the Parliament resumed second half of the Budget Session. Talking about the assistance offered to the Kashmiri Pandits, Nirmala Sitharaman said that the government will fulfill all the promises made to them.
Nirmala Sitharaman informed the Lok Sabha that 1025 transit accommodations have already been completed in Valley itself, while 1,488 units are at different stages of construction.
The finance minister said, “Cash assistance, food provided for those who have been housed in the transit accommodations.”
She further added that the government has provided jobs to 4,678 Kashmiri Pandits in the Valley.
“We will fulfill all the promises that we have made to Kashmiri Pandits,” Nirmala Sitharaman emphasised.
Nirmala Sitharaman said that the abrogation of Article 370 has led to an increase in pace of development projects.
“After removal of Article 370 in Jammu & Kashmir, 890 Central laws have become applicable there. What was denied to people of J&K over 70 years will be given to them. It has enabled that which Dr Ambedkar gave for the rest of the country for SC/ST is now available for people of J&K,” the finance minister said in Lok Sabha.
