New Delhi:  Union Minister Jitendra Singh said on Friday that militancy was on its way out in Jammu and Kashmir and the youth of the state have already joined in India’s journey for progress and development.

‘Today, militancy is on its way out. It is in its last phase. After the Balakot air strike, the morale of armed forces have changed,’ Dr Singh while participating in the debate on the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Bill 2019 and the statutory resolution for six-month extension of President’s Rule in Jammu and Kashmir from July 3.

The bill seeks to give reservation in educational institutions and government jobs to those living within 10 kilometres of the international border (IB) along the Line of Control (LOC).

Dr Singh said Prime Minister Narendra Modi changed the narrative and the approach towards militancy has changed.

He made serious allegations that some people have vested interests in continuation of militancy in the state and beneficiaries are from the mainstream who want their generations to benefit from the troubled situation in the state.

The Minister said one is terrorism and the other is ‘intellectual terrorism’ which is causing as much harm as terrorism.

‘But the silver lining is that the youth of Jammu and Kashmir who has moved on,’ he said.

Dr Singh said 35-40 students of the state cleared IITs and 50 cleared NEET exams for medical entrance. ‘Today 70 per cent population was below 40 years of age and youth of Kashmir has already joined the journey of India’s progress,’ he said.

‘A terrorist is a terrorist is a terrorist and let the security agencies decide on the course of action to be taken against them,’ he said.

Rebutting the ‘serious allegation’ that BJP does not want assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir, Dr Singh said,’ We are a party with a difference. We are a 24X7X365 party. We have a tradition and work in an organised manner. We don’t interfere with the works of election Commission.’

Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir were the prerogative of the Election Commission, they will take inputs and proceed accordingly.

Raghu Ram Krishna Raju of YSRCP, Rahul Ramesh Shewale od Shiv Sena, Bhartruhari Mahtab of Biju Janata Dal, Kaushalendra Kumar of JD-U, asaduddin Owaisi of AIMIM and Meenakshi Lekhi of BJP also spoke.