‘AFSPA to go when permanent peace is established’
Day not far when PoJK people will want to become part of JK
Dr Jitendra lauds DM for lot of help to border villagers
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, June 26: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh today indicated that democratic process would be initiated soon in Jammu and Kashmir though he didn’t give any timeframe for this. He also said that Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) will be removed when lasting peace is established in the Union Territory.
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He made these announcements at a Security Conclave organized by J&K unit of the BJP this morning in the presence of Union Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) Dr Jitendra Singh, BJP UT chief Ravinder Raina and Lok Sabha member from Jammu Jugal Kishore Sharma among others.
Dr Jitendra Singh, in his address, lauded the steps taken by Rajnath Singh to mitigate sufferings of border villagers from intermittent shelling across the Line of Control (LoC) and other welfare measures.
In a warning to Pakistan, the Defence Minister said India is getting powerful and it can hit on this side of the border and can go across the border as well.
As Jammu and Kashmir completed five years of the Central Rule only last week, Rajnath Singh, in his address to the conclave as well as responding to media queries, said the democratic process would be initiated soon in Jammu and Kashmir but fell short of giving any specific timeframe.
“We are committed to commencing the democratic process in the region at the earliest to fulfill long-standing aspirations of the people,” he said, adding following abrogation of special status, aim of the Government is to restore normalcy in Jammu and Kashmir as early as possible.
Refusing to offer precise time frame for holding of Assembly elections in the Union Territory. Rajnath, however, expressed confidence that the process wouldn’t be unnecessarily delayed.
“I cannot provide a specific time frame, but I assure you that it will not be a lengthy process. That is what I can confidently say”.
On revocation of AFSPA in Jammu and Kashmir, the Defence Minister said he was waiting for establishment of permanent peace in the UT before its removal.
“I eagerly await the day when a lasting peace will be established in Jammu and Kashmir and the AFSPA can also be lifted from the region,” he said but declined to mention any time frame for the process.
He said Pakistan does not have a locus standi on Pakistan-occupied Jammu Kashmir (PoJK).
“A unanimous resolution has been passed in the Parliament of India regarding PoJK that it is a part of India only. Not one but at least several proposals with this intention have now been passed in the Parliament,” he said.
He said that given the improved situation in Jammu and Kashmir and the oppression and injustice being meted out to the people in PoJK, the day is not far when the people of PoJK will demand that they want to be part of Jammu and Kashmir.
Asserting that India is getting more powerful, the Defence Minister, in a veiled warning to Pakistan albeit without naming the neighbour, said if the need arises, it can hit on this side of the border and also by going across.
“India has taken major action against terrorism under the Modi Government,” he said and referred to the surgical strikes carried out across the border in 2016 and the Balakot air strike in 2019.
“Bharat ab pehle jaisa Bharat nahi raha. Bharat takatwar banta jaa raha hai. Zaroorat padi to Bharat seema ke iss par bhi maar sakta hai aur zaroorat padi toh uss paar bhi jaa sakta hai (India is not the same as it used to be. It is getting more powerful. If needed, India can hit on this side of the border and can go across the border as well,” Rajnath said.
He also said that Prime Minister Modi took just 10 minutes to decide on the surgical strikes.
“Pulwama and Uri were both unfortunate incidents… Prime Minister took just 10 minutes to take a decision (on carrying out surgical strikes) which shows his strong will power. Our forces not only neutralised the terrorists on this side, but also went across the border to finish them,” he said amid an applause from the audience.
The Defence Minister said under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Central Government started effective action against terrorism and for the first time not only the country but also the world came to know what is the meaning of zero tolerance against terrorism.
He asserted that India has changed the mindset of the whole world, including the US, on the issue of terrorism.
Jammu and Kashmir, he said, has suffered the brunt of terrorism for a long time and people here know how the poison of terrorism hollows out the society.
Noting that the entire network of terrorism was operating in Jammu and Kashmir for decades, he said, “Today strict action has been taken against that network by weakening it to a great extent. We have stopped the funding of terrorism, stopped the supply of arms and drugs and along with the elimination of terrorists, the work of dismantling the network of Under Ground Workers who work here is also going on”.
Referring to the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019, Singh said while the common people of Jammu and Kashmir were kept away from the mainstream for a long time, they also became a “hindrance” in taking action against anti-national forces.
Without naming Pakistan, he said countries using terrorism as a state policy have to understand very well that this game will not last long.
“Today, most of the big countries of the world are united against terrorism,” he said, adding the joint statement issued recently by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Joe Biden clearly shows how today India has changed the mindset of the whole world, including America, on the issue of terrorism.
“It has been clearly stated in this Joint Statement that there should be concerted action against the UN listed terrorist organisations, which include Lashkar-e-Toiba, Jaish-e-Mohammed and Hizbul Mujahideen.
“It has also been said in this joint statement that Pakistan should put a stop to every terrorist act taking place in its territory and should not allow its land to be used for this,” he said, adding Pakistan was also asked to take action against those behind the 26/11 Mumbai and Pathankot attacks.
He said it is natural that the rulers of Pakistan will be annoyed by this joint statement.
“There has been a rote statement that India is diverting the attention of the world from Kashmir. I want to clearly tell the Government of Pakistan that nothing will be achieved by parroting Kashmir. Take care of your house,” he said.
Singh said it would not be an exaggeration to say that the Modi-led Government has laid the strong foundation for “revolutionary reforms” in the country, which is the biggest achievement of this government.
“I remember the words of Modi at his oath ceremony in 2014 when he said ‘saughandh iss mitti ki desh nahi mitne doonga, desh nahi jhukne doonga ((I vow on this country’s soil, I won’t let the country be erased, I won’t let the country stop, I won’t let the country bow down),” he said, adding the Prime Minister has kept his pledge in letter and spirit.
Asked about concerns regarding China’s assistance to Pakistan in constructing border infrastructure, Singh said, “We possess the capability to address any such challenge. We will undoubtedly overcome such challenges.”
India’s prestige and stature have increased on the world stage under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister said.
He said the world is now listening intently when India speaks, which was not the case earlier.
Under the Modi-led Government, the prestige of India has gone up on the international stage and so has its stature. Earlier, when India used to say something at international forums, it was not taken so seriously, he added.
He said the situation has changed after Modi took over in 2014.
Rajnath said the Government will never let the sanctity of India’s borders be violated and talks are going on at military and diplomatic levels with China to resolve issues in a peaceful manner.
Singh said there have been perceptional differences between India and China on the boundary issue for a long time.
“I want to repeat that there have been some activities on the LAC since 2013, but I outrightly reject (claims) that there has been any significant change or encroachment on the LAC after our Government was formed,” Singh said.
Paying glowing tributes to soldiers martyred in Galwan Valley in Eastern Ladakh in 2020, the Minister said the Chinese army ignored the agreed protocols and unilaterally tried to make some changes on the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
He lauded the valour and dedication of the Indian Army which foiled attempts by the Chinese PLA to change status quo and said the country will remain indebted to the brave soldiers for their sacrifice and their courageous feat in Galwan will be remembered with pride by future generations.
“We are pained when attempts are made to question the bravery of the soldiers to corner the Government. The people of the country are proud of their armed forces,” he said.
He said India wants the resolution of issues with China through peaceful means.
“The talks are going on at military and diplomatic levels. We want to assure you that we will not compromise on India’s border, its honour and self-respect.
“We will never allow violation of the sanctity of our borders,” the Defence Minister said, adding that the Government has learnt from the 1962 war with China and has focused on building border infrastructure.
He said the border residents are the “strategic assets” for the country and the Government wants people to settle in the forward villages and is undertaking massive infrastructure development works for their benefit from Ladakh to Arunachal Pradesh.
“Rohtang tunnel (on Leh-Manali Highway in Himachal Pradesh) was constructed by our Government which completed the project pending for 26 years in six years. This Atal tunnel is very strategic in nature as it will facilitate movement of our troops (round-the-year),” he said.
Referring to Prime Minister Modi’s outreach in foreign countries over the years, he noted that the Prime Minister of one country referred to him as “boss”, while US President Joe Biden said Modi is so popular that one desires to have his autograph.
Rajnath said the armed forces of the country are being equipped with latest weaponry, asserting that national security is the government’s topmost priority and it is committed to protect the sovereignty, unity and integrity of the country.
Singh also said the country does not want to depend on imported weapons. The government’s aim is to “Make in India, Make for the world”, he said.
“No stone is being left unturned to equip the military with latest weaponry and modern technology,” he said, assuring the nation that the armed forces are fully capable of protecting the borders and the seas.
“Our goal is to bring our armed forces in the frontline of modern militaries,” he said.
Elaborating on the blueprint on national security, Singh said Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government has been working on four directive principles which include enabling the country to deal with threats to its security and sovereignty and to take every action to protect national interests.
To create safe conditions within the country to facilitate progress, improve the lives of the people and fulfil their aspirations and to build an environment with friendly countries to tackle global challenges such as terrorism unitedly are the other two principles, the Minister said.
Asserting that India has witnessed a paradigm shift in its security scenario in the last nine years, he touched upon the measures taken by the achieving ‘Aatmanirbharta’ in defence.
He listed out a number of steps taken to attain self-reliance, namely notification of positive indigenisation lists and earmarking 75 per cent of defence capital procurement budget for domestic industry in financial year 2023-24.
“India does not want to depend on imported weapons. Our national security will only strengthen when we become self-reliant in defence manufacturing. Our aim is to ‘Make in India, Make for the world’. Our efforts are bearing fruit,” he said.
The Defence Minister said India is manufacturing tanks, aircraft carriers, submarines and various kinds of weapons with its defence exports crossing Rs 16,000 crore from a meagre Rs 900 crore before 2014.
“The exports will touch the Rs 20,000-crore mark in the next few months,” he said.
Singh also enumerated the structural reforms undertaken by the government, including the appointment of Chief of Defence Staff and setting up of the Department of Military Affairs.
“The Government continues to move forward, and work is being done to set up theatre commands, which will be another revolutionary reform,” he said.
The Defence Minister underlined the importance of coordination with major world powers, such as the US and Russia, to protect India’s security interests.
“India and the US are being seen as natural allies and their strategic partnership is being further cemented,” he said, adding India-US defence cooperation has grown rapidly with the expansion of military-to-military engagements, government to bolster national security, including strengthening border infrastructure and information sharing and cooperation in the fields of artificial intelligence, cyber, space and mutual logistics support.
He called for an integrated and united response to deal with global threats and challenges. “India is a major regional power. Therefore, it is important for us to align our security concerns with other countries in our extended neighbourhood.”
Singh mentioned about the General Electric Aerospace-Hindustan Aeronautics Limited deal to co-produce F-414 fighter jet engines in India.
“With this deal, we will become the fourth country to manufacture jet engines. Tejas aircraft will be fitted with these Made in India engines,” he said.
Rejecting speculative reports on the price and other terms of purchase of MQ-9B drones from the US, Singh said the Ministry of Defence will compare the acquisition cost of the drones with the best price General Atomics offered to other countries.
“The acquisition will be made only by following the established procurement procedure,” he said
Rajnath slammed former US President Barrack Obama’s statement about minority rights in India, saying he should first think about how many Muslim-majority countries were attacked during his tenure.
Singh said Obama should know that the people of India believe in the concept of ‘vasudhaiva kutumbakam’ and consider all people as members of one global family.
“He (Obama) should also think about how many Muslim countries he has attacked (as US President),” Singh said when asked to react to Obama’s remarks.
Singh said India has a secular character as people of different religions, including Hindus, Muslims and Christians live together harmoniously.
“I want to tell you with confidence that even Muslim countries would not have all the 72 sects of the community. It is only in India that you will find them all,” he said.
The Defence Minister said that certain forces across the world are responsible for creating a negative perception of India. But people should investigate the number of Muslim countries that India has attacked.
In response to queries on the opposition’s demand to send an all-party delegation to Manipur for an assessment of the ground situation in the violence-hit northeastern state, Singh said the Home Ministry would take appropriate decisions in the matter.
“The Ministry of Home Affairs will consider the ground situation and make decisions that are in the best interest of Manipur. The justifiability of the decisions will be ensured,” he said.
Meanwhile, Dr Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology; MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, while speaking on the occasion, observed here today that earlier most of the defence equipment was imported from other countries, but after the Government headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi took over, it is now the other way round and the export of defence equipments from India has gone up six times in 9 years.
Addressing the National Security Conclave here, Dr Jitendra Singh complimented Rajnath Singh, first as the Union Home Minister and later as the Defence Minister, for steps taken to mitigate the sufferings of border villagers from intermittent shelling across the LoC and welfare measures.
“Earlier border villagers used to take shelter in Block or Gram Panchayat buildings, but the Union Government first sanctioned bunkers for civilians and later approved family bunkers also,” said Dr Jitendra Singh adding, “PM Modi amended the rules to extend the 4% reservation to residents of border villages so as to include the International Border (IB) under its ambit. This corrected the anomaly created by the erstwhile Congress-National Conference Govt who had given 4% reservation to LoC residents but ignored IB residents for vote bank reasons”.
The Minister also complimented the Modi Govt for approved raising of two Border Battalions in the paramilitary police.
Dr Jitendra Singh said our national security will be further strengthened with two landmark agreements signed during the historic visit of PM Modi to the US. “One is the deal for manufacturing jet engines for the LCA Tejas fighter jets, and the other is that US warships will now be berthing at our Naval Shipyards for extensive repairs. This demonstrates the trust reposed in our capabilities by the US,” he said.
Dr Jitendra Singh said our defence infrastructure will also gain from the Indo-US pact on Quantum Computing. “In the nine years of the Union Government led by PM Modi, India has turned the tide from being just an importer of Defence items to being an exporter of arms and ammunition. There has been a substantial jump in the export of Defence items,” he said.
Dr Jitendra Singh said all this helps create jobs for our youth. He said, the Modi Government has opened new avenues for the youth of Jammu & Kashmir, particularly the residents of border villages.
“In J&K, the youth are also gaining with the launch of Agri Startups through Lavender cultivation and under the Aroma Mission”, the Minister said.
“Youths are India’s biggest asset, with people up to 40 years of age making up 60% of our population. With avenues open for the elderly people 60 years and above, India will emerge a developed nation during the Amrit Kaal by the centenary year of India’s Independence,” he said.
Dr Jitendra Singh today said, the Modi Government has opened new avenues for the youth of Jammu & Kashmir, particularly the residents of border villages.
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