There is zero tolerance for corruption, no one in above law now: Jagdeep Dhankhar in J&K

Referring to India’s upward growth in the last nine years, Dhankhar said: “We take pride in what is happening in our country, we had never dreamt of it.” “We were the world’s 11th economy a decade ago and in September 2022, our country got the distinction of becoming the 5th largest global economy, marching ahead of our colonial ruler – the UK,’’ he added.

On the abrogation of Article 370 and 35A in August 2019, the vice president said he had been advocating for it for the past 20 years. “It (Article 370) was an aberration,” he said, adding that “it was put as a temporary provision in the Constitution, but it lasted 70 years”.

Asking people to go by facts as they never lie, he said digital transfers in the country were 1.3 trillion US dollars in 2022, which were more than four times of all those put together by the US, the UK, France and Germany.

“Did we dream of it,’’ he asked, adding that “this could not have happened unless the recipient was technologically receptive and had the accessibility system”.

“Our 700 million internet users in 2022 are more than that of the US and China taken together,’’ Dhankhar said, adding that “when we have these achievements, the mother of oldest democracy is on the rise’’.

He called upon the people to be proud Indians and take pride in the country’s historical achievements “when all is going well and the world is envying us, respecting Bharat as never before”. “These are not the days that we have to make our voice clear in the world, the world awaits what the leader of the largest democracy says on a particular point,” he said.

“In that situation, there is a cause of concern, a cause of worry that some of us, a small category, try to tweak, tarnish, demean, decry our institutions,’’ Dhankhar said. This country has been feeding more than 800 million people, no country in the world can ever think of that, he said, adding that “we therefore cannot allow anyone to tweak or repeal our upward growth trajectory’’.

Referring to the constitutionally functional democracy at village, panchayat, panchayat samiti, zila parishad, state and the Central level, he said “this incredible political ecosystem is because of our homogenous system”.

“Some people in the country believe they are above the law,” the Vice President said, adding that they take to the streets when there is the demand of law. “If their acts are summoned by a regulatory agency, how can they take to the streets,” he asked.

Dhankhar said there is zero tolerance for corruption now. “The message is loud and clear that you may be anyone, of any identity or any religion, you are accountable to law. The mechanism is now transparent, impactful and effective,’’ he said.

He also invoked BJP idealogue Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee while describing the “remarkable growth and development trajectory” of Jammu and Kashmir post the abrogation of Article 370 and 35A. It is “a testament to the vision and foresightedness of Dr Mookerjee who gave his life for it”, he added.

Pointing out that people now have the privilege of having a harmonious atmosphere that was “never there earlier”, he said this is the greatest homage to the great visionary and one of the youngest vice chancellors who laid down his life for building a strong and united India. “He (Mookerjee) died a detainee in Srinagar jail on June 23, 1953,’’ Dhankhar said, describing it as a “momentous tragedy’’ that happened within days of his arrest at Lakhanpur.

Pointing out that he died as he had challenged restrictions then imposed on the people of the country in travelling to Jammu and Kashmir, Dhankhar said, “It is gratifying for us that, though belatedly, we have realised his dream and now Indians can travel freely in their own country and in this part.’’