*Will act against separatists after NIA report
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, May 28: Reiterating that Narendra Modi-led BJP Government will find out a “permanent solution” to Kashmir problem, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh today said that `Kashmir, Kashmiriyat and People of Kashmir’ will not be affected by the solution the Government was working on for the vexed problem. He refused to drop even a semblance of hint on “permanent Kashmir solution”.
In an interview to ‘India Today’ news channel, which was telecast this evening, Rajnath also reiterated his call for “unconditional talks” with all stakeholders in Jammu and Kashmir saying he had already made such an announcement in the Valley as a Home Minister as well as head of All Party Delegation last year and was again extending a similar call.
On repeated questions by the interviewer as what was the possible solution to Kashmir problem on which the Government was working, the Union Home Minister said: “Kashmir is a challenge for us but we will find out permanent solution to the problem. The problem will be solved in such a way that it wouldn’t affect ‘Kashmir, Kashmiriyat and People of Kashmir’.
When asked that even the previous Governments had talked of solving Kashmir problem, Rajnath didn’t agree with the questioner saying no former Government had ever said that they will give permanent solution to Kashmir problem.
“I’m saying here that we will permanently solve the Kashmir problem. A strategy is in place. As a Home Minister, it (the strategy) can’t be disclosed,” he said and asked: “as a Home Minister should I disclose the strategy and solution the Government was working at to resolve Kashmir”? He said the people of the country have high hopes on Narendra Modi Government that it would find a solution to Kashmir problem and “I assure you that these hopes wouldn’t be shattered”.
He added that the countrymen very well know that he never talks baseless things. “When I say the problem will be resolved, this means something. It will take time but we will solve the problem”.
On whether it would be a military solution, Rajnath said whenever he talked of permanent solution to Kashmir problem many people and the journalists want to know what the solution would be. “I can say with full confidence that we won’t allow Kashmir to burn for a long”, he said but refused to give specific time-frame for solution to the problem saying it was going on since 1947.
“There are no differences,” he remarked in response to a question that whether Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti was on board on the decisions being taken by the Centre to solve Kashmir problem.
On whether the Centre would hold talks with the Kashmir people, Rajnath said he has already made it clear that the Centre was ready for unconditional talks with all stakeholders.
“Whosoever comes forward, we are open to talks. We are ready for unconditional talks. When I visited Kashmir as a Home Minister and then as head of All Party Delegation last year, we had announced that we are ready to meet anyone, who comes to meet with us. Two senior Opposition leaders-Sharad Yadav and Sitaram Yechury even went to the residence of separatist leaders but were returned empty-handed. I have said this repeatedly that we will talk to anyone, who comes forward,” Rajnath Singh said.
On some of the Hurriyat and separatist leaders on-camera confessing taking funds from Pakistan to create disturbances in Kashmir, he said: “we knew it earlier. We knew this before the sting operation”. He admitted that this was a very serious issue as Pakistan was trying to destabilize Kashmir and through Kashmir, it was trying to destabilize India.
He said the entire case of separatists’ funding from Pakistan was before the National Investigating Agency and the Government would wait for the NIA report before proceeding further.
On why the separatists are kept under house-arrest in palatial bungalows instead of being lodged in the jails, Rajnath said the security cover and other facilities of the separatists are looked after by the State Government. At the same time, he added that this (the facilities provided to the separatists) practice is going on for quite a long time.
On former militant Bitta Karate’s on-camera confession that he had killed a number of Kashmiri Pandits and would create disturbances after taking funds from Pakistan, the Home Minister said the Centre has taken very serious notice of such things and would act after receiving a report from the NIA, which was investigating the case.
Asked whether the Government would file review petition before the Supreme Court for fresh trial of Bitta Karate, he said whatever is require will be done by the Government.
Asserting that security forces have been given a free hand to deal with the militants, he said: “we don’t directly tell to security forces to kill the militants. It’s for the security forces to decide what they have to do. They can take their own decision against the militants”.
On action against Pakistan, Rajnath said: “we have done what we have to. You have seen that. What we will do further that we can’t tell here. It is for Pakistan and their army to decide as to what kind of relations they want with India”.
He said the Government was decisively acting against the militants and more militants have been neutralized. He added that due to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s extraordinary efforts, the world has realized the challenges of terrorism. Entire world is now on board for collective fight against terror, he added.
Rajnath said there was not much impact of ISIS in India. Even in Kerala, very few youth have been radicalized, he asserted.
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