SRINAGAR: Minister for Agriculture Production, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Cooperative and Election Department, Javid Ahmad Dar, on Saturday, said that the government remains hopeful about the restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir.
Speaking to reporters in Sopore, Dar reaffirmed that Jammu and Kashmir will regain statehood and stressed that the commitment made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah on the floor of Parliament still stands.
He said the final decision lies with the Centre but added that the local government is hopeful the transition will happen soon.
Responding to a question on road and healthcare infrastructure, the minister said, “For nearly 8–10 years, there was no public representative or popular government. Now that a government is in place, every constituency is witnessing progress.”
He credited the presence of an elected government with enabling growth in infrastructure, especially in road connectivity and healthcare services.
Dar said that efforts are ongoing to resolve long-pending issues and that road infrastructure development will continue in a phased manner across regions.
Regarding the Crop Insurance Scheme (CIS), he said the scheme will be implemented by September–October this year.
“Sopore is very important for us,” he added, highlighting the town’s significance.
The minister also acknowledged the consistent efforts of local MLA Irshad Rasool Kar. “There’s hardly a day I don’t see him at the secretariat, pushing forward one issue or another,” he said. (KNO)
