Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, June 21: The Parliamentary Standing Committee (PSC) on Home Affairs said today that Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) like BSF and CRPF should be given most sophisticated and modernized weapons and favoured setting up of a Commission for welfare of para-military personnel working under most tough circumstances along the borders and hinterland even as they maintained that militants could still be hiding in the villages close to airbase in Pathankot to repeat January 2 like attack.
On third day of visit to Jammu and before leaving on four-day visit to Kashmir, PSC chairman P Bhattacharya in the presence of other PSC members told reporters at 84 battalion headquarters of CRPF this morning that though BSF and CRPF have enough armoury with them, they were in the need of sophisticated and modernized weapons to deal with any kind of situation developing on the borders.
“The BSF and CRPF were well equipped with latest weapons and gadgetry but they can be given more sophisticated weapons,” Bhattacharya, who was heading 11 members PSC on Home Affairs and had met top brass of BSF and CRPF here during their 3-day visit, said.
Pointing out that they had observed certain shortcomings in the para-military forces, the PSC declined to disclose them to the media on the ground that they will be part of their report, which they would submit to the Parliament after completing their tour of Jammu and Kashmir and some other border States.
Bhattacharya said the people living along the International Border have also listed a series of problems that they were facing especially during Indo-Pak hostilities like border shelling and firing but added that they would project these problems in their report and not mention them in the media.
Bhattacharya said the terrorists could be hiding in villages close to the Indian Air Force (IAF) base in Pathankot, which can come under fresh attack from them and added that they have informed the Government about it following which security of strategically significant airbase and surroundings has been further beefed up.
The Home Affairs Committee, which had visited Pathankot earlier, said: “after going back from Pathankot, we made our suggestions to the Government and said that there can be further attack on Pathankot… We were told by the villagers that some terrorists were still hiding in the villages there”.
After the recommendation of the Committee, the Government has alerted the CRPF, BSF and the Army and handed over the security of the airbase to them, Bhattacharya said.
“Do you know that a few days ago, Government asked the CRPF, BSF and the Army to guard the air force station because some terrorists are hiding there. How they are hiding there, it is not my business to find out but as we got the information from the villagers, it was very clear to us that they are hiding somewhere. We have informed the Government of India about it,” Bhattacharya said.
Replying to a question on permission granted by the Government of India to Pakistan’s Joint Investigation Team (JIT) to visit India especially strategically very significant Pathankot airbase, the PSC chairman said he was not in favour of allowing Pakistani intelligence officers to visit the strategic facility.
“The committee does not support the idea of the Government of India of bringing this intelligence branch of Pakistan here. What for? But for any foreign policy of the Government of India, we are not the proper fora, we cannot take the decision to do this and not to do this”, he said.
A five-member Joint Investigation Team (JIT) from Pakistan had visited India between March 27 and 31 to collect evidence with regard to the attack.
Bhattacharya said the policy guidelines have to be framed by the Indian Government.
“The committee conducted intensive tours of Indo-Bangla border and India-Pakistan border and now we are heading towards Srinagar.
“We went to Pathankot which is the most vulnerable area”, he said.
The Committee said it was satisfied with the measures being taken by the BSF to check infiltration, but advocated providing fully modern facilities to the force.
“As of now, they have explained to us the way they are trying to prevent infiltration. You cannot say what is happening today or tomorrow but till now, it is all right,” Bhattacharya said.
Replying to a question regarding Pakistan violating international norms on the IB by constructing concrete bunkers, Bhattacharya said India should take up the matter very seriously with Pakistan.
“As I understand from the Government of India’s stand, they have taken a strong stand on this issue,” he said.
He added that the BSF jawans guarding the International Border in Jammu and other parts of the country need the most modern amenities and equipment.
Referring to the problems faced by troops at the border, Bhattacharya said the committee will submit its recommendations to the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and would want them to solve those.
“Right now, we cannot disclose our recommendations to you, but we have made some observations and those problems have to be sorted out by the Ministry of Home or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. After we submit these papers to the Government of India, the Home Ministry and the Foreign Ministry should sort out all the problems, maintain peace and ensure complete harmony in this part of the country,” he said.
He said that the Committee had the opportunity to discuss the problems being faced by the farmers living along the International Border (IB) in Jammu region and would ask the Indian Government to redress those at the earliest.
The Committee had yesterday visited the border areas of Octroi in RS Pura, Pittal in Arnia and Jakh in Samba sector and inter-acted with BSF officers, civil and police administration, CRPF top brass and civilians, living on the border areas.
Meanwhile, hitting out at BJP Rajya Sabha member Subramanian Swamy for his tirade against RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan, CPI leader D Raja, who was also part of the PSC on Home Affairs, said the BJP leader should criticize the NDA Government at the Centre as all the micro and macro level economic decisions are taken by it.
“The point is that Subramanian Swamy has been levelling serious allegations against Raghuram Rajan, but all macro level and micro level economic policies are decided by the Government. If Swamy has to criticise the Government for economic policies, he should criticise it directly,” he told reporters separately.
Replying to a question about Rajan’s decision not to seek a second term, the CPI leader said, “It is his prerogative because as an individual he has the right.. Whether he wants to continue or whether the Government is offering second term to him or not. I don’t know and I cannot speak for the Government or for the RBI Governor. It is a different issue.”
Advocating resumption of composite dialogue between India and Pakistan, the Rajya Sabha member said the Governments of the two countries should engage in a meaningful and serious dialogue.
“Government of India will have to take up all related issues with Government of Pakistan. Dialogue is the only alternative. India and Pakistan should conduct themselves as mature nations and not fall prey to any provocation,” he said.
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