India and Pakistan should together move forward: Hooda

By Haryananewswire

CHANDIGARH, FEB 21

The Haryana Chief Minister, Mr. Bhupinder Singh Hooda, said that the both India and Pakistan together should move forward with love and harmony as it would benefit both the countries.

        Mr. Hooda was addressing a 31-member delegation of Lahore Press Club led by its President Mr. Arshad Ansari  and  the members of Chandigarh Press Club who had called on him at his residence here today.

Welcoming the Pak delegation, Mr. Hooda said history and culture of both the countries has been almost similar. Both have participated in the freedom struggle and also sacrificed their lives. He said that after the partition, both are separate countries and have political boundaries.He said that trade and dialogue between the two countries should be increased to ensure development and it would also be in their interest. 

He said that although there were hurdles yet the process of dialogue should continue.

While describing press as the fourth pillar of democracy, Mr. Hooda said that press has played a pivotal role even prior to independence. He said that at the time of freedom struggle, Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak, father of Nation Mahatma Gandhi and  Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru were good journalists and became leaders. He reminded that his father late Ch. Ranbir Singh had also brought out a newspaper.

Mr. Hooda said that when Haryana created in the year 1966, people might have thought that how could this small State make progress but during the last eight years, the State has made unprecedented development in every field.He said that education and health sectors have always been his priority. Various prestigious educational institutes, universities and colleges, NIT, NIFD are coming up in the State as a result of which in the next five to six years, the State would become an education hub of international standard.

He said that a better health could be ensured only through sports. Overall development of children could not be ensured until they were not involved in constructive activities. With a view to promote sports at village level, the State Government has constructed 225 rural stadia. He said that as a result of facilities being provided to the sportsperson, the players of Haryana have brought laurels in the Commonwealth Games by winning 22 medals out of 38 won by the country.

Had Haryana been a country, it would have been on fifth place in medal tally. Similarly, in Olympic Games, Haryana has won four out of total six medals won by the India. He said that the State Government has also implemented a new Sports Policy which has three main ingredients namely infrastructure, talent hunt and future security. 

SPAT has been introduced to groom the talent from the young age. Also, the scheme of ‘Padak lao Pad Pao’ has been started under which sports persons winning medals at national and international level were being given government jobs. Jobs of the level of Deputy Superintendent of Police have been given to the sportsperson, he added.

        Mr. Hooda said that he being a son of farmer, is very well aware about the needs of farming community. The Resettlement and Rehabilitation (R&R) Policy of the State Government is being followed by the entire country. As per the policy, those farmers whose land has been acquired for various development works, are being given market rate of land plus an annuity at the rate of Rs. 15,000 per acre for 33 years. He said that now the State Government has also implemented the land pooling scheme under which the farmers have been made partner in the development process.

        Mr. Hooda said that he had also visited Pakistan and he knew that it’s economy is also agro based.Pakistan should also adopt this policy so that the coming generation of farmers is benefitted.

        Speaker, Haryana Vidhan Sabha Mr. Kuldeep Sharma said that people of India and Pakistan are similar in many ways and the exchange of politicians and media-persons between both the countries is a right step in the direction of building strong bond between both the countries.

President Lahore Press Club, Mr. Arshad Ansari described Mr. Hooda as a refined politician and a clear hearted man. He also invited Mr. Hooda to visit Lahore to participate in the Meet to Press programme.

        Political Advisor to Chief Minister Prof. Virender Singh, Additional Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Dr. K.K. Khandelwal, Principal OSD Mr. M.S Chopra, Deputy Principal Secretary Mr. R.S Doon were also present on the occasion.