Army successfully handling infiltration: DM
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Mar 17: Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh today declared that security forces can cross the Line of Control (LoC), if required to secure India’s borders and said the Central Government wants to find out “permanent solution” to Kashmir problem. He described the children of Kashmir as “ours own” and said it was in this context that he had asked Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti to withdraw cases against first-time stone pelters.
Addressing TV18 Network’s `Rising India Conclave’ this morning in the Union capital, Rajnath charged Pakistan with trying to give political legitimacy to United Nations designated terrorist Hafiz Saeed by making him a politician and facilitating his decision to contest elections, which would give him access to Pakistan Parliament.
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“Our security forces are protecting the borders very well. They are doing a great job inside. If required, they can cross the LoC to protect out territorial integrity. Our security forces have capability to do that. Don’t take it lightly,” he said in his address to the conclave followed by Question-Answer session.
Rajnath’s statement assumed significance as it comes at a time when Indo-Pak troops were engaged in repeated skirmishes along the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir. Indian Army had crossed LoC at four places in J&K in September 2016 in the aftermath of Uri attack and eliminated number of militants and Pakistani troops besides destroying the terror infrastructure.
Asserting that the BJP Government at Centre wants “permanent solution” to Kashmir problem, the Union Home Minister, without naming the separatists, charged them with playing with the future of Kashmir children.
“Some leaders (a reference towards the separatists) are playing with the future of Kashmir children. First these leaders should do `jihad’ and then tell the children to do so. Sitting in their bungalows, these leaders want children to do jihad,” he said, adding “the children of Kashmir are also ours. Therefore, I had asked Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti to withdraw all cases against first-time stone pelters including teen-agers, children, youth, who had, by mistake, involved themselves in stone pelting. We can’t separate the Kashmir children from us. They must have been brain washed”.
Rajnath declared that Kashmir was, is and will always be ours. “No power can separate Kashmir from us”.
“Terrorism is a global phenomenon. Our Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been successful in bringing the international community on board with us on the issue of terrorism,” he said and pointed out that United States had openly asked Pakistan to stop funding and aiding terrorism from their soil or else they will stop aid to Pakistan.
Asserting that India wants to have friendly relations with neighbours, Rajnath quoted Atal Behari Vajpayee that you can change your friends but not neighbours. “We want good ties (with Pakistan) but they don’t understand”.
Charging Pakistan with trying to give political legitimacy to United Nations designated terrorist and 26/11 Mumbai terror attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed, Rajnath said Pakistan was facilitating floating of political party by Saeed, which will give entry to him to Pakistan Parliament.
Haqqani Network, which is responsible for killings of scores of people are being abetted and given protection by Pakistan, which is shocking,” he said.
Rajnath Singh said the Centre has appointed Dineshwar Sharma, a former Intelligence Bureau (IB) chief as the Government’s Special Representative in Kashmir, who would talk to anyone in J&K keen for a dialogue.
Singh also highlighted the Government’s efforts in dealing with Maoists and the insurgents in the Northeast.
He said the battle against Naxals can’t be won through bullets and hence several developmental initiatives were taken in this direction.
“We are trying to reach those areas which have remained unreachable since independence. Naxalism was a huge problem for India but in the last four years we have achieved major success in that space,” he said.
Singh said violence in the Northeast has come down by 75 per cent in last few years.
Rajnath said that the BJP had taken lessons from its defeat in Uttar Pradesh Lok Sabha by-polls and would work to ensure that such a result is not repeated.
“Ho gaya, aage nahin hoga. Humein pata chala ki aisa bhi ho sakta hain (It has happened, it will not happen again. We have learnt that even this could happen),” Singh said.
The BJP lost to the Samajwadi Party in the by-elections held for Gorakhpur and Phulpur Lok Sabha seats, vacated by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and his Deputy Keshav Prasad Maurya respectively.
Asked to comment on Rahul Gandhi, the Home Minister said despite the Congress president’s attacks on the Government, only “time will tell against whom India was rising”.
“He is our Opposition leader and he will keep saying things. But only time will tell against whom the country is rising,” Singh said.
Taking a dig at the Prime Minister after his speech at a meet, Gandhi tweeted, “Modi Ji, those were some fancy power point slides. A quick word of advice: You’re right about Rising India. One small issue – it’s rising against you.”
Asked what he would do if he becomes the Prime Minister, Singh said he was not an overambitious person. “I am not overambitious. But if anyone is given the opportunity, they must fulfill it. Our Prime Minister is doing a very commendable job,” he said.
Rajnath said India was 2 billion dollars economy and among 10 top growing economies in the world.
“The day is not far when we will be among top 5 economies and then super economic power,” he added.
Speaking at the same conclave, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the Army is successfully handling infiltration by the militants.
“It is the responsibility of armed forces (to check the infiltration by militants) and they are doing it very well at great cost of men and assets. Infiltration is being stopped at borders itself. Troops are now allowing infiltrators to come in. But, of course, some do come in and we eliminate them or push them back,” she said.
Sitharaman said she feels for every soldier, who is martyred on the borders.
“When we hear the news of martyrdom of soldier, we feel for them. On the other, Pakistan even doesn’t accept the bodies of its soldiers,” Sitharaman said.
The Defence Minister said both state and non-state actors have colluded in Pakistan to push infiltrators.
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