Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Sept 12: Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said today that the Centre would respect sentiments of all three regions of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh on Article 35-A and declined to comment whether the Government of India would file counter affidavit on the issue, which is before the Supreme Court and scheduled for listing after Diwali festival in October. Rajnath, however, came hard on illegal immigrants settled in Jammu including Rohingyas saying their stay here was ‘illegal’ and the Government was working way out to act against them.
The Home Minister said he has taken up with Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti the issue of holding elections to Municipalities and Panchayats in Jammu and Kashmir, which was brought to his notice by some delegations, which met him during his four-day visit to the State.
Addressing a press conference before returning to New Delhi, the Home Minister, replying to a volley of questions on the issue of Article 35-A, which defines State Subject Law of the State, and his yesterday’s statement on the subject in Srinagar, made it clear that no attempt should be made to misinterpret his statement.
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“I have said sentiments of all three regions of the State including Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh will be taken into account. Further, the matter is sub-judice (as the issue was pending in the Apex Court),’’ he said and refused to be drawn into the controversy.
However, responding to another question as to whether the Centre would file counter affidavit in the Supreme Court on Article 35-A, Rajnath refused to give categorical reply saying “a Public Interest Litigation has been filed in the Supreme Court. What happens, you will keep getting the information’’.
Asserting that the Centre has taken serious note of illegal immigrants settled at various parts of the country including Jammu, Rajnath said the Government was going to take strong action against Rohingyas.
“We are working on this direction,’’ he said but refused to elaborate as to how and when the Rohingyas would be deported. However, he said he was not ruling out security threat to the country from Rohingyas.
On his talks with various delegations during four-day visit in Jammu and Kashmir and whether separatists were stakeholders to Kashmir problem, Rajnath reiterated that he had come to the State with ‘open mind’ and made it clear that anybody who wants to meet him was welcome.
“Whether separatists are stakeholders or not, you can decide,’’ he remarked.
Rajnath said he has taken up the issue of holding elections to Municipalities and Panchayats with the Chief Minister. “I have told the Chief Minister that the elections should be held (to Urban Local Bodies and Panchayats),’’ he added while responding to a question that elections to these two grass-root democratic institutions haven’t been held for past quite some time.
In response to another question of Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi’s attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi blaming the BJP Government for creating space for terrorists, Rajnath initially just laughed away saying the statements need no reaction. However, when pressed further, he said no unnecessary statements should be made on national interests.
“What was the situation in Kashmir seven to eight years back? Why situation didn’t improve after 1989? I wouldn’t blame anyone or fix responsibility. We should be interested in resolving the Kashmir problem,’’ the Union Home Minister said.
He added that there has been vast improvement in the situation in Kashmir during past one year.
“I won’t say that full normalcy has been restored during the period when I visited Jammu and Kashmir last year but definitely, the situation was better now. I have already spoken about 5 Cs to resolve Kashmir problem including Compassion, Communication Co-existence, Confidence Building and Consistency,’’ he said.
The Government is trying to regain the faith of people of Kashmir, Rajnath said and sought support of all political parties and stakeholders to resolve the problems of the State.
“We are trying to regain the faith of people (of Kashmir),” he added
“I want cooperation and support of all, including all political parties and all stakeholders of the society to resolve the problems of the people of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh,” the Home Minister said.
He did not agree with a view that the militant ranks in Kashmir have swelled and said “terrorists are being strongly dealt with by the security forces bravely.”
In response to a question on the statement of Northern Army Commander Lt Gen Devraj Anbu not ruling out more surgical strikes against Pakistan, Rajnath asked: “why Pakistan fired on our borders? They are worried’’. It may be mentioned here that Pakistani troops had resorted to shelling at Nowshera and Poonch sectors on the Line of Control (LoC) yesterday when Rajnath was meeting border migrants and addressing security force personnel at Nowshera.
On National Investigating Agency (NIA) raids on separatists and whether an Independent MLA from Kashmir Engineer Rashid will also be investigated for allegedly taking funds from across, Rajnath said the NIA is an autonomous body and it should be allowed to work independently.
“We shouldn’t interfere or intervene in the NIA working,’’ he stressed.
Singh batted strongly for equal development in all the three regions of the State-Kashmir, Jammu and Ladakh.
“We want that there should be no discrimination with any part of the State. All the three regions should have proper and comprehensive development. This is the ideology of our government,” he said.
“Keeping in view this aspect, Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) had announced a development package for J&K under which 63 projects are being implemented in the three regions of the State,” he added.
Under the package, 6000 transit accommodations are coming up for which Rs 920 crore have been sanctioned, he said.
Singh said the Centre has a tough stand towards illegal migrants but a “sympathetic view” towards those displaced within the country and the minorities of Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh who have become refugees in this country.
To a question about sealing of borders, he said wherever fencing is not possible and physical barriers like riverine terrains can’t be used, technology like sensor-based cameras will be used.
“We are opting for hi-tech fencing through technological solutions like radar, censors and cameras where physical patrolling is not possible in view of riverines,’’ he added.
Rajnath said Pakistan is not showing interest in improving relations with India. In this regard, he pointed to the regular violation of ceasefire by the neighbour in Jammu and Kashmir.
“Pakistan is regularly resorting to ceasefire violations and because of this, I feel Pakistan is not showing interest in improving relations with India,” Singh said. “Our Army and BSF troops are giving a befitting reply. We will create such conditions that they (Pakistan) will be forced to stop ceasefire violation today or tomorrow,” he said.
“Since 2014, Pakistan has resorted to over 400 ceasefire violations every year. This has to be stopped by Pakistan,” the Home Minister said.
He reached out to the people who were living along the Line of Control but were forced to shun their homes and hearths and take shelter in camps in Nowshera sector of Rajouri district for over four months.
The Home Minister said that the country is proud of the border dwellers and they are a “strategic asset” for India.
“If there is any biggest strategic asset of India, it is the Indian citizens living along the borders of the country. It is the biggest strategic asset of India. If we get strategic successes, it is because of your contribution,” he said.
The Union Minister said the Centre has decided to set up an expert group to study the problems and challenges of the people living along the border.
“This expert group or study group will give its opinion and we will act on that,” he said.
The Minister said 60 bunkers have been built and a decision has been taken by the Government to construct more bunkers.
The Minister also hailed the troops of the Army and the BSF, and said the country is proud of them. He said the border residents are undeterred by the ceasefire violations by Pakistan.
“They have also contributed to defending the borders. This contribution cannot be forgotten,” he added.
Replying to a question on delay in disbursement of Rehabilitation Package to PoJK refugees, Rajnath said he has taken up the issue with the Chief Secretary of the State, who has assured that Aadhaar linking will be completed by December and payments will be made through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT). However, he declined to comment on whether 5000 PoJK refugees, who had settled outside Jammu and Kashmir, would also be given benefits of the Rehabilitation Package.
On whether there would be a new Surrender Policy for the militants, he said “we have policy on all issues, there is no need of any fresh policy’’.
On delay in various projects including All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS), the Union Home Minister said this issue has come up during his visit and he has asked the Deputy Chief Minister (Dr Nirmal Singh) to get work expedited on all projects. Land should also be identified for the projects, wherever required.
On engaging youths, he said the State Government was engaged in creating job opportunities and “I don’t agree that militancy is increasing’’. Army, police, security forces are working affectively to counter militancy, he added.
On Ryan International School murder in Haryana, he said law and order is purely a state subject and whatever has happened in the School is wrong.
To a question on problems faced by the youths of Jammu and Kashmir under Prime Minister’s Special Scholarship Scheme, Rajnath said as soon as the issue was brought to his notice, he took the meeting with Human Resources Development Minister and Secretary and AICTE along with affected students and resolved most of their issues. A Nodal Officer has also been appointed in the MHA.
On discrimination with the youth of Jammu in recruitment by PSC, Rajnath said this issue has come up before him but didn’t elaborate.
He said Kashmiri Pandits would shortly get 3000 jobs, which were pending and their accommodation issues will be settled.
Embarrassment for Govt as HM leaves Guest House
The State Government especially Ruling BJP had to face major embarrassment when Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh shifted out of the Government Guest House to Hari Palace Hotel last night due to bad condition of the room he had been allotted.
Reports said that when Rajnath went inside the room last evening, it was found unfit for the stay.
He brought the matter to the notice of some senior functionaries accompanying him.
Reports said that immediately thereafter it was decided to hire room for Rajnath Singh at Hari Palace Hotel. The matter was brought to the notice of SPG, which sanitized the floor of Hari Palace Hotel.
After meeting the delegations at Guest House, Rajnath had dinner and night halt at Hari Palace. He also had breakfast in the Hotel this morning and reached Guest House to meet delegations again. He left for New Delhi this afternoon after addressing a press conference at Jammu Convention Centre.
However, he didn’t have food at the Guest House. The packed lunch was sent to his aircraft.
Sources admitted that it was major negligence on part of the State Government in which BJP is the coalition partner, which failed to inspect the rooms where the Union Home Minister had to stay for two days.
“Had the rooms been examined well in advance, such an embarrassing situation wouldn’t have resulted,’’ sources said, adding that Rajnath was visibly upset with the accommodation arrangements made for him and preferred to leave the Guest House.
According to sources, Chief Secretary BB Vyas and Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Rohit Kansal spoke to Hospitality and Protocol authorities immediately after getting reports of Rajnath deciding to leave the Guest House.
It may be mentioned here that Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti holds charge of Hospitality and Protocol Department.
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