Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 22: Terming two back-to-back terror attacks in Kathua and Samba districts as a “conspiracy” to derail the peace process, Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed today asked the Pakistan Prime Minister in explicit term to rein in the terrorists in order to carry forward process of peace and reconciliation.
Giving identical statements in both Houses of State Legislature following massive pandemonium, Mufti Sayeed said, “the attacks that were carried out in Kathua and Samba won’t defeat and weaken our resolve to bring in lasting peace in the region”. He, however, made it clear that relations between India and Pakistan won’t improve if such incidents continue to happen.
Stating that such dastardly acts are timed to subvert the peace process that has recently been started between India and Pakistan, the Chief Minister said, “the forces which are desperate to disturb peace in the region need to be identified so that they won’t succeed in their nefarious designs. If we have to carry forward the process of reconciliation, such incidents should not be repeated”.
“The people of J&K have given a mandate of power to move ahead. They have a strong resolve and some terrorist attacks will not deter them”, he said while condemning the attacks in strongest words.
Sending out a message to Pakistan, the Chief Minister said, “If they want peace and friendship with us and continue the peace process, Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and its establishment must control them (terrorists)”. He, at the same time, described Pakistan as “victim” of terrorism and said, “Pakistan itself has been caught in the web of terrorism…If their Prime Minister says they are unable to do anything (to control terrorism)…. So this is our fight also”, Sayeed said.
He reminded that during the tenure of former President Pervez Musharraf all the non-state actors were controlled as a result of which there was peace right on the borders right from Kargil up to Kathua.
“The attacks that took place in Kathua and Samba over the last two days were nothing new as such incidents have been happening for long”, he said, adding “such attacks have been taking place in the past two-three years also with even heads being decapacitated on the borders”.
However, he made it clear that such attacks will not deter resolve to fight terrorism. “We want to walk down the path of peace and the peace that was witnessed by the State after 2003, similar peace will return to Jammu and Kashmir shortly”, he added.
“The roots of democracy have grown stronger in the State. We have invested a lot in the peace process. There are some rogue elements which, in the name of religion, are carrying out such acts. These elements will not be allowed to damage the fabric of peace in the State,” said the Chief Minister.
Describing recently-held Assembly elections as free, fair and transparent which restored the faith of the people in the democratic institutions of the State and the country, he said, “I urge all the people to allow Jammu and Kashmir to reap the rich dividends of peace, for which steps have been taken by the Government of India,” adding “need of the hour is to broaden the peace constituency by strengthening the voices of dialogue and reconciliation”.
When Congress Legislature Party leader, Nawang Rigzin Jora objected to repeated use of non-state actors words by the Chief Minister, Mufti Sayeed asked, “who were the people who attacked churches in Karachi, who launched attacks in Peshawar, who is Lakhvi”.
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