Revival of J&K's economy is a priority: Union Minister

Declaring revival of economy of Jammu and Kashmir as a priority, Union Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman today promised to take positive steps towards revival of sick units and promoting industry in the state.
"Revival of economy in the state is our priority," she said while addressing BJP workers here as part of 'Vikas Parv' programme.
Referring to the revival of sick units and promoting industry in the state, she promised to take positive steps after going through the Industrial Policy of the state.
She said the Modi government wants the economic empowerment of the next generations of poor people.

The Commerce Minister claimed that the price rise has been checked under the NDA rule.
She expressed commitment of the Modi government towards the rehabilitation of displaced people including refugees.

With regard to the issue of India's entry into the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), she said all countries support it except China with which the matter will be discussed.
"Under (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi's leadership, all the countries stood up for us and are saying India should be given membership in NSG. But China is in opposition. For that also External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj has said that it will resolved by talking to China," she said.

Sitharaman said times have changed under Modi's leadership from a periodwhen sanctions were slapped against the country during the rule of Indra Gandhi and Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
"India's respect across the globe has increased during Modi's period. Everybody knows that we have conducted nuclear tests since Indira Gandhi's time...Pokhran-I and second explosion took place during Vajpayeeji's time," she said.
"The world stood against us that India should not be nuclear power and slapped sanctions against us twice. They wanted India should not be be nuclear power and should have not have nuclear capability. They slapped sanctions against us.
"But today as Modi ji continues that journey (toward India to be powerful nuclear power), we tried hard for the membership in NSG and all countries came out in our favour by saying that India should be given the NSG membership," she said.

Sitharaman asked the workers whether they ever thought "that a time will comewhen the world, which stood against us in the past, will stand with us. But today Modiji has changed the environment. All preparation for India to get NSG membership have been done".
Attacking the previous UPA government, she said the country witnessed "total policy paralysis" during UPA-II and the nation had to suffer.
"After taking over as PM, Narendra Modi brought the system on rails, introduced work culture and India entered into a new era," the minister said.
She said that during previous government, there was no check on infiltration but NDA brought it down.

She said the Congress had launched MNREGA with a slogan of 'gareebi hatao' (remove poverty) but "unfortunately it was misused and the poorpeople were exploited".