SRINAGAR: The state government on Thursday said it would re-visit the industrial policy approved by the administrative council when the state was under Governor’s Rule from January to April and the new version won’t compromise the state’s special status under Article 370 on the Indian constitution.
Affirming that the PDP-BJP alliance will safeguard the special status of Jammu and Kashmir in the country, Government spokesman and Minister for Education Naeem Akhtar said that the industrial policy of 2016 needed review.
Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and Deputy Chief Minister Dr Nirmal Singh have said that they will review the policy, and the cabinet will decide if new things need to be added to the policy.
The Minister said J&K has many important sectors like horticulture, medicinal plants and other areas that need to be classified as an industry to boost the growth of such key sectors.
We have asked the industries department to come up with the reviewed policy to submit it to the cabinet which will then take a final decision.
When asked about the reports saying that the industrial policy allowed non-state subjects to start industries in the state, Akhtar said: That is what somebody has said. We dont want that perception to prevail that we will erode the constitutional and legal status of the state, he said.
Though Akhtar did not disclose why the policy was being reviewed, reports have mentioned that the policy was framed to open gates for non-state subjects into the state to establish industries.
We are reviewing the policy for reasons that will come to you with time, the minister said.
The minister said that PDP-BJP alliance is firm on safeguarding the special status of the state. “We have kept that in agenda of alliance.
On composite townships in the Valley for rehabilitating Kashmiri migrants, the minister said that the government has promised their return and it will go ahead with the plan
We are keen to get our Kashmiri brethren back to the valley with respect and dignity as part of the society, he said.
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