Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 23: Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed today asked neighbouring country (Pakistan) to halt cross-border infiltration into J&K State as it was a prerequisite for peace in the region.
“I want to tell everybody, that Pakistan, Pakistani Prime Minister and Pakistani establishment should be told that nobody should be allowed to cross into this side from that side. Then only there will be peace, otherwise not,” he told the Legislative Council here today.
Mr Sayeed was replying to supplementary queries posed by several members of the Upper House on a question raised PDP member Yashpal Sharma.
Complimenting the Army for installation of the border fencing during the previous PDP rule, Sayeed said from 2002 to 2010 from Kargil to Kathua there was no firing on borders.
“During our rule, we impressed on Gen Vij, the then Army Chief, to ensure fencing on the borders and there was full fencing. They (Pakistan) were not allowing us to construct the fence,” he said.
“That was effective in checking infiltration. Now they (militants) have found out ways to cut into the fence. There is some technique wherein you can cut the fence for infiltration,” he said.
Stressing the need of having peaceful borders, Mr Sayeed said, “We have to ensure peace on our borders. That should be our aim and target”.
“I want to assure the members of this House that we will create an atmosphere of peace and Government of Pakistan must also ensure peace,” Mufti maintained.
The Chief Minister said that border firing is not good for both sides. “People on both sides get killed in the firing. There was no loss of life or damage to property from 2002 onwards till 2010. We need to formulate a strategy to ensure peace along the borders,” he added.
“People of the State suffer the most. We are seriously thinking on it. Until that happens we should be alert”, he said.
“They (cross-border elements) are also throwing heroin and other narcotic materials over and above the fencing towards this side,” he said.
“I want to assure the members who have concerns on the issue that we will create an atmosphere of peace and normalcy on the borders,” he said.
On the issue of the cross-border firing, Sayeed today said, “How long we will keep our hands tied up and sit silently? No, those who have faced the brunt of the border firing, we have to compensate them, provide them jobs and this is reflected in our Common Minimum Programme (CMP)”.
Mufti, while speaking on the issue pertaining to farmers cultivating lands on the borders, said, “Due to fencing some of the people were left ahead of the fence in our areas in Poonch, Rajouri and other areas”.
“Our farmers were told not to go ahead with farming activity. I took the Corps Commander with me and we went to Balakote area (in Poonch district) and impressed on them to allow the farmers to cultivate the land till the borderline and not stop them. It worked well for both stopping infiltration and farming issue as well,” he said.
“But my wish is that till the end of the border, my farmers are engaged in cultivation or farming. Why should we leave our lands,” Mr Sayeed maintained.
Earlier, replying to the main question of Yashpal Sharma, Minister incharge Horticulture, Haj and Auqaf A R Veeri said that 10 civilians lost their lives and 89 others were injured in firing and shelling from across the border in Jammu region between January 2014 and February 2015. He said a large number of families which were dislocated were provided temporary shelter in Government buildings at safer places and all basic amenities were provided by the Government to these families. He said ex-gratia has also been provided out of Red Cross Society Fund for the loss of live stock. A revised proposal to raise community type bunkers for these villagers has been submitted to the Union Government.
Several members including G N Monga, Ajay Sadhotra, Jehangir Mir, Vivod Gupta, Surinder Choudhary amd Dr Shehnaz Ganai raised supplementaries.
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