SURAT/Mumbai, Nov 26:
Union Finance Minister and election in-charge of ruling BJP in Gujarat, Arun Jaitley today said the situation in Kashmir has changed during Modi Government’s rule and for the first time the security forces have established dominance over terrorists in the region.
He also said post-demonetisation the funds used to gather stone-pelters has stopped and whoever becomes Lashkar ‘commander’ does not last for more than 2 to 3 months.
Addressing a meeting here after the Man Ki Baat Chai Ke Saath programme of the party near a booth, Mr Jaitley said the Modi Government has increased the strength and pride of the country.
“Those supporting the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks (Pakistan) have been alienated in the world. And the situation in Kashmir that our Government had got as a legacy 2 to 3 years ago have also changed. Now the crowd of stone pelters who used to assemble on every petty issue are not visible,” said Jaitley.
“Today the intelligence system has again been restored across the villages and for the first time the security forces were dominating the terrorists there. The demonetisation move has dried up the funds of those who used to gather stone pelters by giving them money. After November 8 last year in such incidents never a crowd of more than 100 people has been seen,” he added.
“On November 8 last year, we introduced note ban and it had a major impact. Those who used to distribute money to stone pelters are not able to gather even 100 youth to pelt stones in the past eight to 10 months after demonetisation,” Jaitley said.
“Our biggest problem is Kashmir. Narendrabhai Government inherited a situation where there was a civil disobedience- like situation three years ago. Thousands of stone pelters would gather to protest against stray incidents. Terrorists would mount attacks with impunity and Hurriyat leaders could close down the valley with one call.
“Today, the situation has changed. The person who becomes the commander of Lashkar (terrorist outfit LeT) knows he will be alive for two to three months. The intelligence network has been strengthened right down to the village level,” he added.
“The Hurriyat leadership stands exposed today as it has been revealed from where they used to get money,” he said, referring to money laundering cases filed against some of the Hurriyat leaders.
Meanwhile, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju said India had adopted a “zero-tolerance policy” towards terrorism and lamented that neighbour Pakistan was not doing enough to control the growth of terror on its soil.
“The Government has made it clear on various international platforms that Pakistan is a breeding ground for terrorism,” he said at a function in Mumbai to commemorate the supreme sacrifices made by the security personnel during the Mumbai terror attack nine years ago.
On November 26, 2008, 10 Pakistani terrorists reached Mumbai via the sea route and opened indiscriminate fire, killing 166 people, including 18 security personnel, and injuring several others, besides damaging property worth crores of rupees.
“India has adopted a zero-tolerance policy towards terrorism. I do not want to go into its details but the outline is clear,” Rijiju said.
Asked about the release of Mumbai terror attack mastermind and Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) chief Hafiz Saeed, the Union Minister of State for Home said, “It is a matter of concern for us. We have been putting pressure on Pakistan in a bilateral way as well as through multilateral forums.”
Saeed is also the founder of terror outfit Lashkar-e- Toiba (LeT). The UN and US designated terrorist, who has a USD 10 million American bounty on his head, was freed by Pakistan on Friday.
Rijiju said, “On various international forums, we are making it absolutely clear that Pakistan is a breeding ground for terrorism and it is not doing enough to contain the growth of terrorism on its soil. They must do much more than what they had said.”
Asked about the neighbouring country being reluctant to cooperate in the Pathankot terror attack probe, the BJP leader said, “Our stand is clear and efforts are going on. I cannot disclose certain aspects of the attack or our efforts.”
In January 2016, terrorists had sneaked into an Indian Air Force base in Punjab’s Pathankot. The attack had claimed the lives of seven security personnel, while four terrorists were killed.
Rijiju said the coastal borders of India were much more secure now.
“We have taken a series of measures to secure the coastal borders. We have adopted a series of integrated coastal security schemes which are effective,” he added.
Meanwhile, Pakistan has released 2008 Mumbai attacks mastermind Hafiz Saeed from “house arrest” in a bid to increase terrorist activities in India, Union Minister Hansraj Ahir said.
Calling Pakistan the “enemy” of the Kashmiri people, the Minister of State for Home said Islamabad was uncomfortable with Indian security forces eliminating militants in Jammu and Kashmir.
“Pakistan is uncomfortable with the way Indian security forces were eliminating terrorists. Even Saeed’s relative, a terrorist, has been killed by our security forces. To give a boost to terrorist activities, Saeed has been released (from detention) by the Pakistani Government,” Ahir said.
He was speaking at an event commemorating the bravery of security force personnel during the Mumbai terror attacks.
“Terrorism is not letting us live. I can say it clearly that Kashmir’s enemy is Pakistan. Even the Kashmiris agree to this,” Ahir said.
The Minister said the Indian Government has increased the amount it spends to purchase new equipment and modern weapons for security forces to improve the internal security.
He claimed the Union Government has succeeded in curbing the Naxal activities and preventing terrorist attacks in the past three years.
“The Naxal attacks have come down by 20-25 per cent. The Government is also working on bringing down instances of smuggling through the coastal areas,” he said. (Agencies)
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