*India can meet any challenge: Dr Jitendra
Sanjeev Pargal /
Fayaz Bukhari
JAMMU/SRINAGAR, July 12: Three-member high-level Central delegation comprising Union Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) Dr Jitendra Singh, Union MoS Home Hansraj Ahir and Joint Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), J&K, Gyanesh Kumar today briefed Prime Minister Narendra Modi and submitted detailed report to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on security situation in the Kashmir valley with particular reference to Monday’s attack on Shri Amarnath Ji pilgrims in which seven yatris were killed and several others injured.
Soon after their return to the Union capital this afternoon after their two-day visit to the Valley during which the Central delegation met Governor NN Vohra, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and presided over a high-level security review meeting, Dr Singh gave an extensive briefing to the Prime Minister on security situation in the Valley, steps taken for safety and security of Shri Amarnath Ji pilgrims and counter-militancy operations across Kashmir.
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Modi has called for utilizing all resources to provide fool-proof security and all other facilities to pilgrims of Shri Amarnath Ji shrine, located in South Kashmir Himalayas at the height of 12,500 feet from sea level. Dr Singh briefed the Prime Minister on “anti-militancy” and “counter-infiltration” measures taken by security forces and police and internal security situation in the Valley.
AT 6.30 pm today, Dr Singh, Ahir and Gyanesh Kumar submitted their detailed report on Kashmir situation to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh in half an hour long meeting, sources said, adding that the report had specific mention of details of the attack on Shri Amarnath Ji pilgrims and steps required to plug any kind of security lapse for the pilgrims as still there were about 25 days left for culmination of annual yatra of Lord Shiva.
Sources said Rajnath Singh reiterated the Government’s war against terrorism. He declared that war against terrorism will be intensified.
The Home Minister was all praise for Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti for her cooperation and support rendered by the State Government during attack on Shri Amarnath Ji pilgrims.
“The Chief Minister acted very promptly after the attack and kept giving regular feedbacks to the Centre, which helped the Government a lot,” Rajnath is reported to have said.
The delegation briefed the Home Minister on their meetings with the Governor, the Chief Minister and top brass of civil, police administration, heads of para-military forces and Intelligence officials in Srinagar yesterday and suggested certain steps the Union Home Ministry and Jammu and Kashmir Government can take together to curb militancy and unrest and enhance security of Shri Amarnath Ji pilgrims.
Sources said the Central delegation wanted further enhancement of security for the pilgrims at base camps of Nunwan and Baltal apart from Jammu-Srinagar National Highway. It wanted that all yatri vehicles, whether part of yatra convoy or not, had to be protected at any cost to ensure that none of them was harmed.
The delegation was of the view that Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) and Hizbul Mujahideen militants, at the behest of their mentors in Pakistan, were hell bent to create trouble in the Kashmir valley and attack on Shri Amarnath Ji pilgrims was part of that “vicious game plan” of the Pakistan-backed militants.
Sources said the Union Home Ministry could take certain more steps to contain militancy and enhance security of the pilgrims based on report of the Central delegation.
Meanwhile, Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh today warned China that India is today better equipped to meet any challenge and said that militancy in Kashmir is in final phase and decisive headway is being made to combat it.
Dr Singh told a news conference in Srinagar that India is better equipped today to meet any challenge from China. “Always keep in mind 1962 is not 2017. Whenever observations are made people have 1962 on the back of their mind. But, there is a big difference between India of 1962 and India of 2017. India is today better equipped to meet any challenge,” he said.
The Minister while was responding to a question about the situation at the borders with China, said India is today much different and much better equipped to meet any challenge than it was in 1962. “Defence Minister Arun Jaitley has already stated that we are very comfortably placed as far as the China issue is concerned. And please, always keep in mind that 1962 is not 2017. India today is much different and much better equipped to meet any challenge,” he said.
Dr Singh contended that the militancy in Kashmir was in its final phase with decisive headway being made in the last few weeks and months to combat it. “This is a common observation that there has been a decisive headway made in combating it (militancy) in the last few weeks and months,” he said.
The Minister said that the youth of Kashmir is keen to be a part of the developmental journey of Prime Minister Narendra Modi because there has been a dawn of a new era of development in the last three years. “I am very optimistic that this militancy is also going to outlive its life as we have seen happening in other parts of the country. I think we are now in the last phase of the militancy,” he said.
The Minister said Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of the country and ending the militancy in the State was what Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh meant when he referred to a final solution of the Kashmir issue recently. “I think the final solution is being interpreted in different ways by different sections. It means that this protracted phase of militancy, terrorism and violence would finally meet its end,” he said.
Dr Singh also said the civil society in Kashmir and the security forces have to cooperate with each other so that the situation gets better. “The civil society cannot survive without the security forces as are the circumstances today. The security forces also know that they have to restrain themselves and more than ever before in the last 25 years, this has been a great learning experience even for them…The kind of restraint that they are exercising, sometimes even at the risk of their own lives and jobs,” he said.
The Minister also took a dig at the separatists, saying those who were instigating the youth to take up violence had lodged their own children in safe havens. “The society has to get together and give a call to the youth to not get instigated or provoked,” he said.
On youth joining militancy, Dr Singh said that the society in Kashmir has a role to play to counsel its children. “The society, elders, religious or social leaders have to make sure not to let the children go astray. Those who are instigating youth to take up guns or stones, why don’t they first offer their own children to take to gun. The protagonists who are provoking youth for send their own children in safe havens and they are making the best of all the avenues available both in the government as well as outside. If they were so honest protagonists, could they have not set an example by first giving guns in the hands of their own children? This is what the society has to tell, not the Government alone,” he said.
Dr Singh, who along with Minister of State for Home Affairs Hansraj Ahir was part of a Central delegation visiting Jammu and Kashmir to assess security measures for Amarnath pilgrims, said that security agencies are investigating the attack on the Amarnath Yatris and the Government will go by the probe of the agencies. “The investigation into the attack is being done. Instead of jumping into conclusions, the issue should be left to the wisdom of the security agencies. The last word should come from the security experts. The security agencies and the DGP could share within a few hours that they have identified the main person behind it,” he said.
Dr Singh complimented the people of Kashmir and the Government of the State for condemning and standing up with the victims and their families. “We have to compliment the civil society and the people Kashmir and entire State. This time there was no selective and apologetic condemnation”, he said.
When asked about the UJC and LeT condemning the attack, the Minister said: “I think this is healthy. This is one good thing that has happened out of this bad incident that nobody has been apologetic about condemning it.”
Dr Singh said that “we are here to express our solidarity with the people of Kashmir on behalf of the Government of India and especially Prime Minister Narendra Modi.” He said there was huge surge of emotions across the country over the attack on pilgrims and Union Home Minister is personally monitoring the security situation after this gruesome attack.
The Minister hailed the civil society members, people of state particularly Kashmiris for coming out and condemning the attack in unequivocal terms. He said that the civil society has proved and vindicated the faith that India stands for. He also acknowledged the role of security forces in fighting terrorism in the State and said that we have the best forces of the world which are capable to giving befitting reply to enemies of humanity.
Dr Singh thanked the local and national media for their role during this tough time and also urged them to show positive side of Kashmir to the world. He said that even after the attack, the Yatris were insistent that the Yatra should not be stopped and this spirit shows that nothing will stop us to move ahead.
The Minister said that security experts are looking into all the aspects which lead to this unfortunate attack on innocent people and all the inputs will be considered to further strengthen the security cover to the pilgrims and visitors. “Our visit stresses the re-assurance that the entire country is with the Kashmiris and Yatris and that all the arrangements for a safe and secure Yatra will continue with renewed vigor,” he said.
The Union Minister of State for Home, Hansraj Ahir told the reporters that the government has decided that Road Opening Parties will patrol the highway for more hours till late in the night. He said that the security agencies have been asked to plug the loopholes. “We have directed security agencies to plug the loopholes, if there are any. The security measures are adequate and if the need arises, more measures can be taken”, he said.
Ahir lauded Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti for handling the situation. “Chief Minister met the injured and the whole country has been inspired by her handling the situation and visiting the injured at the hour of grief. The country saw how a Chief Minister fulfilled her responsibility. The Prime Minister made quick arrangements for lifting the injured to their States,” he said.
The Minister said that the two patients at SKIMS are stable. “The doctors at SKIMS are doing a good job. All the injured are stable,” he said.
On the arrangements discussed in review meetings, Ahir said that Road Opening Party time will be extended. “Checking of every vehicle, no vehicle without registration to be allowed, these arrangements have been discussed. The drivers will be given a note that if something happens they should call,” he said.
The Minister said: “We visited Kashmir to review the security scenario after the attack on Amarnath Yatris and had separate meetings with the Governor N N Vohra, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and senior officers of Army, police and paramilitary forces.”
Ahir said while adequate security arrangements have been made for smooth conduct of the Yatra, “after the tragic attack near Botengoo in Anantnag, the security has been further beefed up.” He said that the number of Yatris has increased this year which shows people have faith in both Centre and State Governments and despite the unfortunate incident, Yatra is going on smoothly and people are visiting Kashmir without any fear.
“After the unfortunate loss of life and injuries to the Yatris in the attack, the entire security apparatus has been put on high alert and instructions have been issued to strengthen Road Opening Party (ROP) network till late hours on Yatra route,” the Union Home Minister added.
Terming the incident an attack on humanity in which innocent people especially women were targeted, Ahir said that the attack was condemned by every section of the society within and outside the State which shows that there is no place for violence in our society. He especially thanked people of Kashmir for condemning the attack on Yatris in one voice and reaching out to the victims in the hour of need.
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