NEW DELHI, Nov 8:
The Centre today promised to provide all assistance to Jammu and Kashmir Government to deal with the situation arising out of the resignation of several panchayat leaders and appealed to the separatists not to disrupt peace there.
“Whatever assistance the Jammu and Kashmir Government wants, we will provide to them…We will give full assistance. There are no issues on that. There is nothing to be scared of,” Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde told reporters here.
He was responding to a question on the reported resignation of nearly 800 Panchs and Sarpanchs in J-K through advertisements in various local dailies citing threat to their life. There are 35,000 Panchs and Sarpanchs in the State.
State authorities have, however, stated that they have received only 50 resignations since the panchayat elections were held last year after a gap of nearly three decades.
“I want to request all people, including the separatists, please remain peaceful. We all want peace in Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.
Shinde said he was in regular touch with State Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and has offered him any help that may be required, including on the front of development initiatives.
“I had toured the State for three days (recently). Let’s talk about development of Kashmir. New confidence has been built among the people of the State,” he said.
Many panchayat members had announced their resignation through advertisements following killing of a deputy sarpanch in Baramulla district in the second week of September by militants.
Meanwhile, against the backdrop of Shiv Sena’s threat to disrupt the upcoming Indo-Pak cricket series, Shinde said the Government would provide the best possible security to players and spectators of the neighbouring country.
Shinde said that sports and politics should not be mixed as the cricket series will pave the way for improving bilateral ties between India and Pakistan.
“When cricketers from other countries come to India, not only Pakistan, it is our duty to protect them. We will discuss and provide best possible security. We are going to be very alert,” he said when asked about Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray’s threat.
Shinde said there would be no compromise on the security of Pakistani cricketers and spectators.
“We should not mix sports and culture with politics. There should be different views. This series will pave the way for the revival of better ties between the two countries,” he said.
The Home Minister said the limited over cricket series should not be mixed with the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, which was carried out by Pakistan-based terror outfit LeT.
The Shiv Sena chief had on Monday had called upon “staunch Hindus and patriotic people of India” to disrupt cricket matches between India and Pakistan due to be played in the country next month.
Thackeray also lashed out at Shinde for his statement “to forget the past” and play cricket with Pakistan.
The series would comprise three ODIs and two Twenty20 Internationals between December 2012 and January 2013. The ODI matches will be played in Chennai, Kolkata and New Delhi and the Twenty20 games in Bangalore and Ahmedabad.
The two countries have not played a bilateral series since Pakistan’s tour of India in 2007. Cricket ties between the two countries were snapped following the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks.
Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and his then Pakistani counterpart Yousuf Raza Gilani had watched the high-profile World Cup semi-final in Mohali last year.
Asked about Pakistani Interior Minister Rehman Malik’s proposed visit to India for operationalisation of the new India-Pakistan visa pact, Shinde said when he met Malik in Rome on the sidelines of the Interpol General Assembly meeting, the Pakistani leader conveyed that he may come on November 22-23.
“We are yet to finalise the dates. We will give our response. They will also give their response. Then the dates will be finalised,” he said. (PTI)
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