NSA visits Anantnag, inter-acts with people
‘Only 2-3 protests by handful of youth’
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Aug 10: Governor Satya Pal Malik today said it will be a “fight to the finish” as far as militants in Kashmir are concerned and they won’t escape from the gun battles even as he assered that there was no sympathy among the people for some Kashmiri politicians, who have misled the people, sold them dreams and earned huge money.
“We are ready for the “fight to the finish” as far as militants are concerned. They have gone into hiding including forests and other such places. But they won’t escape. Even the slightest attempts made by the militants (to create trouble) won’t be tolerated. They will not escape from the encounters,” Malik told news channels in Srinagar.
He said the militants were under pressure from Pakistan to do something (the terror acts) as they have faced enough insults. However, he declared, the militants won’t be spared.
Continuing to target the politicians, the Governor said some of the political leaders from Kashmir have misled the people and sold them dreams while enjoying luxurious life.
“They (the politicians) have earned huge money. That is why there is no sympathy for them among the people,” he said.
In response to a question on protests, the Governor said since imposition of restrictions, protests have been reported from two to three places only and that too by 5-10 youth. After Friday prayers yesterday, about 4000 people came out of a Mosque but peacefully left for their houses without raising any slogan or without any kind of force being used, he added.
Strongly condemning the remarks of Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar regarding Kashmiri girls, Malik denounced the remarks and called upon him (Khattar) to apologize. He said he will also complain to the Prime Minister on the remarks of the Haryana Chief Minister.
The Governor said there will be massive investments in Jammu and Kashmir but added: “It would be ensured that there are no losses to the people and only benefits and environment too doesn’t suffer.
“There will be recruitment soon in security forces. I have also asked the Chief Secretary to advertise vacancies in the Government Departments within a week,” he added.
Malik said there was adequate supply of ration and essential commodities and that ration for the month of August has been supplied. “We sent ration to the localities even in the streets through vehicles,” he added and said people have also been coming out of their houses and shopping for Eid festival.
Meanwhile, continuing his outreach programme, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval today visited Anantnag in South Kashmir and interacted with cattle traders and locals ahead of Eid.
Camping in Valley since August 6, a day after the Centre revoked the provisions of Article 370, which gave special autonomous status to Jammu and Kashmir, Doval had on Friday toured the sensitive downtown Srinagar and interacted with locals and security personnel.
According to officials, the NSA today stopped at a cattle market set up in Anantnag– a hotbed of terrorist activities.
In a video circulated on social media, Doval can be heard enquiring about the price, weight and diet of the cattle–mostly sheep on sale at the market.
A young trader, after informing Doval that he brought his cattle from Drass area of Kargil, asks him: “Do you know where Drass is?”
Before Doval can reply, Deputy Commissioner of Anantnag Khalid Jehangir tells the trader that the man he is talking to is the NSA. A smiling Doval pats the man, shakes his hand and leaves.
On Friday, the NSA, accompanied by his aides and senior police officers, visited the Eidgah locality and stopped at various places to interact with locals.
He later talked to police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel and thanked them for their wonderful work in maintaining law and order.
Earlier on Wednesday, the NSA was seen eating food with locals on a footpath with shuttered shops in the background.
He is reaching out to the local population in the Valley as a Confidence Building Measure.
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