Neeraj Rohmetra
JAMMU, Apr 30: Notwithstanding the turbulence witnessed in Valley in 2016 and even during the past few months, Centre has put in place a long-term strategy to counter the anti-national forces operating in the border State and push through its development agenda in all three regions of the State – Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh.
“The long – terms strategy has been evolved after holding threadbare discussion with all the stakeholders, who included top officials from the security apparatus of the country and incumbents, who have served in different positions in the State. Besides, senior leaders of the party, leadership of the coalition partners – PDP has also been apprised of the broad contours of the strategy in several meetings with BJP’s top brass”, said official sources, who had interacted with top echelons of the party.
“The strategy will take care of both internal and external forces in the State, which are working for abetting fundamentalism in the State. J&K is strategically important State for the country and the efforts will be made to eliminate the root cause of fundamentalist forces, who are promoting terrorism in the State”, said sources.
Dispelling the strong notion that the State is likely to witness a turbulent summer this year, party sources, who are privy to the developments taking place in Centre, said, “Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) is keeping a close tab on the developments in the State and the Prime Minister had himself chaired a meeting to assess the situation. Centre is monitoring the situation on daily basis and has put in place all the necessary measures to ensure that peace is maintained at all costs”, they said, adding, “the State will witness a comparatively peaceful summer this year”.
When countered that violence was still taking place in Valley, sources asserted, “the statistics, which had been shared by Government official with the Central party leadership indicate that the disturbances were confined only to few districts and not the entire Kashmir region. Besides, Kashmir has been witnessing these phases of violence since the past many years and efforts will be made to ensure that cycles don’t occur again”.
“Our security forces are fully equipped and trained to handle any psychological warfare tactics. Government of India (Go) will provide full backing to the forces stationed along the borders and even those operating in hinterland at all costs”, said the sources adding “the party will scuttle all moves to withdraw the necessary protection to forces operating in the State”.
Over the visit of the party president Amit Shah to the border State, sources said, “the leadership has given a target for 2021 Assembly elections to the party and the objective would be to try to form its own Government by gaining sufficient seats in Jammu and Ladakh regions. Thereafter, the party can install its own Chief Minister by aligning with few like-minded people in the Valley”.
Over failure of some of the BJP Ministers to deliver on ground, sources said, “the party leadership held detailed discussions with Deputy Chief Minister, Nirmal Singh and his Cabinet colleagues. Guidelines have been issued to them for ensuring better governance at all costs. The party Ministers have come under serious criticism from several party leaders in view of their poor performance and the issue had also been discussed with the Central leadership”.
Sources said, “the challenge of fundamentalist forces was not only confined to J&K but in several other parts of the country and steps will be initiated at different levels to curb these forces”, adding, “attempts being made to change the demographic character of Jammu region was also a matter of great concern.”
On the issue of Article 370, sources said, “abrogation of this article still remains a core issue for the party and steps will be taken in direction as and when circumstances are favourable”.
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