Statehood, Assembly polls discussed
Panel visits Pak border, meets BSF officials
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 20: The Parliamentary Standing Committee (PSC) on Home Affairs headed by veteran Congress leader Anand Sharma today visited the International Border (IB) with Pakistan in Makwal sector and later held high-level meeting with senior BSF officers at their Paloura Headquarters to assess situation prevailing along the border and requirements of the security personnel deployed there.
Before leaving Kashmir for Jammu, Anand Sharma met National Conference president Dr Farooq Abdullah and vice president Omar Abdullah, both former Chief Ministers at their residence in Srinagar and discussed with them prevailing situation in Jammu and Kashmir.
“Met former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Ministers Dr Farooq Abdullah and Omar Abdullah. We discussed the political situation in the State post August 2019, full Statehood and early Vidhan Sabha elections in the State,” Sharma said in a tweet.
Significantly, in his tweet Sharma twice wrote Jammu and Kashmir as State and not a Union Territory.
It may be mentioned here that the National Conference as well as Congress have been demanding restoration of Statehood before holding Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir. However, in the All Party Meeting (APM) called by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on June 24, the Government had assured expediting Delimitation Commission report followed by the Assembly elections and restoration of Statehood at an appropriate time.
The meeting between Abdullahs and Anand Sharma lasted about half an hour.
During their two-day stay in Kashmir, the PSC on Home Affairs met top officials of civil administration, District development Council and Block Development Council chairpersons, traders, tour & travel operators and visited Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) camps.
The Panel reached Jammu this afternoon and toured the International Border at Makwal in Tawi area of Jammu sector during which they met the BSF commanders and jawans to know the prevailing situation and requirements of the security personnel. They also reviewed facilities being provided to the jawans and their further needs while guarding the International Border.
The PSC members were at the border for more than an hour reviewing different aspects of the situation while interacting with the BSF officials and jawans. The BSF officials gave detailed briefing to the visiting Panel, sources said.
The BSF guards International Border with Pakistan in Jammu, Samba and Kathua districts. Makwal border, where the PSC on Home Affairs visited today, was used by Pakistan to target Indian Air Force (IAF) Station at Satwari in Jammu on June 27 with twin drone strikes in which two IAF personnel were injured while minor damage was caused to the building. This was, however, first ever terror attack using drones.
The Parliamentary Committee tonight held high-level meeting with top BSF officials at their Paloura headquarters during which they were briefed on situation along the borders and requirements of the BSF personnel.
There has been no major ceasefire violation along the International Border in all three districts of Jammu, Samba and Kathua since February 25 this year when the Indo-Pak troops renewed ceasefire agreement on the Line of control as well as the IB. However, drone activities have been spotted along the International Border. Security forces and police have also recovered consignments of arms, ammunition and explosives from the border and other areas including Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) which had been dropped from Pakistan using drones.
Tomorrow, the Parliamentary Panel will review Disaster Management Plan at holy cave shrine of Mata Vaishnodevi Ji. They will be briefed by officials of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB). They will also pay obeisance to Goddess Vaishnodevi Ji.
In the evening, the Committee members are expected to meet officials of the civil administration for review of development works etc.
They will return to New Delhi on August 22.
Prior to their visits to Kashmir and Jammu, the Parliamentary Committee on Home Affairs had visited Leh in the Union Territory of Ladakh where they met the officials of Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), UT administration and representatives of Leh and Kargil Hill Development Councils for first hand account of the situation and their requirements.
This Parliamentary Committee led by Anand Sharma was received by Surender Panwar, Special DG BSF and N S Jamwal, IG BSF Jammu at the Jammu airport today.
The Parliamentary Committee members visited BSF HQ Paloura and where they were given an impressive guard of honour .
N S Jamwal, IG informed the Parliamentary Committee about the threats being faced by the BSF on Jammu IB, ranging from tunnelling, smuggling and fire by Pak troops. A special emphasis was given on the drone threat posed by Pakistani drones abetting smuggling of weapons/ narcotics from across the border to Indian territory, BSF statement said.
The Committee was made aware of the challenges faced by BSF troops due to rainy season, foggy weather and high altitude related problems. Jamwal gave a glimpse of BSF Border infrastructure covering various aspects like requirement of road connectivity upto BOPs, 24 hrs uninterrupted supply of electricity and clean piped drinking water to the BOPs/ FDPs.
Recent BSF achievement like seizure of narcotics on border, neutralizing Pak intruders, detection of tunnels and shooting down of Pak Hexocopter was shown to the Parliamentary Committee Members which was hugely appreciated. The Chairman and Committee members were very receptive of BSF difficulties and challenges on border, the statement said.
The Parliamentary Committee members were also shown an impressive display of weapons and other surveillance equipment being used by BSF in border domination.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
