Modi’s RSS agenda not to materialise: PM Imran Khan

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan Monday reaffirmed his commitment to become the voice of innocent Kashmiris and raise the case of Kashmir at every international forum.

Talking to renowned Kashmiri worker Tony Ashai here, he said the international community would have to realise the agenda of Modi government and its deadliest impact on the region.

He maintained that the Modi agenda based on the RSS and Hindutava ideology was aimed at not only removing the identity of Kashmiri people, but also of millions of people living in India. He, however, emphasized that this dream would not realise.

The prime minister said the government and people of Pakistan would continue to extend political, moral and diplomatic support to their Kashmiri brethren.

Speaking on the occasion, Tony Ashai expressed gratitude to the prime minister for internationally highlighting the Kashmir issue and drawing the world's attention towards oppression and persecution being perpetrated by the Indian forces against the innocent Kashmiris.

He contended that raising the Kashmir issue at every forum, including the United Nations, by the prime minister had effectively exposed the RSS based agenda of the Modi government.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Imran Khan chaired a meeting on the media strategy, which reviewed the overall political situation with special reference to the amended ordinance and the situation created thereof by the opposition.

The premier reiterated his government’s resolve that there would be no compromise on the ongoing accountability while rejecting the opposition’s ‘propaganda’ against the amended NAB ordinance 2019.

He said the move was aimed at further boosting investment and business activities in Pakistan. It was learnt that the prime minister had made it clear that there would be no compromise whatsoever on accountability of the corrupt and it would continue without any hindrance or delay.

He rejected outright the opposition’s criticism of the amended ordinance and clarified that it was not an NRO and hence no relief to the corrupt elements. “I will never give NRO to anyone, who has indulged in loot and plunder of the national wealth,” he asserted.

The prime minister emphasized that the prime objective or purpose of the amended ordinance was to give protection to businessmen by restoring their confidence, adding that 2019 was the year of untiring efforts to revive the national economy and in 2020 the government would focus on providing relief to the common man.

When some cabinet members complained about not having been taken into confidence with regard to the ordinance, the prime minister held out an assurance that the cabinet would be taken into confidence in future on new legislation. It was also decided that the performance of government departments during 2019 would be shared with the masses.

Meanwhile, launching the Sehat Insaf Card facility at the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) for the transgender community for the first time in the country’s history, Imran took on his political opponents and regretted that the previous governments never took responsibility of the most vulnerable segments of society, including the transgender community.

He reminded that the PTI government had taken the responsibility of transgender community and would give them ‘a sense of ownership’. “Pakistan was created on a great idea based upon sense of justice, humanity and humane feelings for the downtrodden,” he added.

He said the past regimes did not even accept the existence of transgender community, but the incumbent government would, however, provide them with full protection by removing negative perceptions about them.

“The government is determined to provide health cards and insurance to all the weaker segments of the society,” he added. “Sadly, there is not realisation in our country what kind of hardships transgenders face," he said, adding that the government had decided to take responsibility of the community by providing health cards.

“The objective behind this is that our government is owning you," he told the audience, which comprised many members of the transgender community.

The initiative will cater to the individuals of transgender community registered with the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) from the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT), Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK),Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) and all other provinces.

About the economic turnaround, Imran highlighted that the government faced the most difficult economic challenges last year, but the year 2020 would dawn with progress and prosperity for the countrymen.

The government took steps for the economic stability during 2019 and now would focus on creating jobs for the youth along with boosting the industrial sector, he said and mentioned that the recently-introduced National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Amendment Ordinance 2019 was a step in the right direction.

Imran referred to the government’s flagship social security programme Ehsaas for alleviating economic ordeal of the poor families. He said through the Utility Stores, subsidised food would be provided to the public. “The issuance of ration cards is on the anvil to enable the deserving people to get food items,” he added.

Moreover, the network of ‘Lungar’ would be spread so that no needy person was left hungry, he said, adding that loan facility was also being extended to the youth. “In the year 2020, we will now move forward on the path of progress and prosperity,” he added.

The prime minister observed that with the Sehat Insaf Card, the poor families would have confidence to get treatment facilities in different health facilities of the country.

He recalled how poor families could not manage treatment of their ailing members due to their meager financial resources. He also appreciated Dr Zafar Mirza for floating the idea of extending such facility to the transgender community, saying they had been facing multiple social problems.

Dr Mirza said a total of 6.8 million families had been provided with the Sehat Insaf Cards and they were making strenuous effort to target all the 15 million deserving ones by the end of next year. The Sehat Sahulat Programme was launched in 84 districts where a total of 300 private sector hospitals have been providing health services to the deserving people, he added.

He said about 50 per cent of the country’s total population, who had been living below the poverty line, could benefit from the insurance facility. Dr Mirza said they had discussed the idea in the cabinet which had approved it. He said the government’s social security programmes would have far reaching effects upon the vulnerable communities.