Shillong, Aug. 28 (PTI): Union Minister Ramdas Athawale on Wednesday welcomed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s statement that Kashmir is India’s internal issue and there is no room for Pakistan or any other country to intervene.
The Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment said the Congress should support the government when it takes the right decision.
“If Rahul Gandhi is supporting, we welcome his decision,” Athawale said when asked about Gandhi’s tweet on Kashmir.
Rahul Gandhi had earlier in the day tweeted that “I disagree with this Govt. on many issues. But, let me make this absolutely clear: Kashmir is India’s internal issue and there is no room for Pakistan or any other foreign country to interfere in it.”
Athawale said no decision to strip the Northeastern states of its special status is underway. On the contrary, he said the NDA Government is paying more attention to these states for their development.
“The Centre is giving more help to the Northeastern states. These states should also try to get more revenue on their own and focus on sectors like tourism and others,” he added.
The Union minister said he would expedite release of INR 350 crore funds earmarked for the construction of a stadium in the state by the Ministry of Social Welfare for the National Games to be held in 2022.
He said that the Centre would sanction INR 2 crore for the construction of the Incubation Centre building at the North Eastern Hill University (NEHU) campus here.
“I have assured them (NEHU) that I will discuss with the Union MHRD minister and I will try to sanction INR 2 crore for the building of the incubation centre,” Athawale told reporters after inaugurating the centre in presence of Meghalaya Arts and Culture Minister AL Hek here.
The objective of the incubation centre is drawn from the vision of Prime Minister’s “Self-efficiency in country’s products under Make in India” to provide an ecosystem for start-ups, to offer guidance, mentoring, physical space and network for funding and value based collaboration for incubation and novel ideas.
