Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, May 18: Top Ministers of Prime Minister Narendra Modi led NDA Government and senior BJP leaders today held high level review of security scenario in Jammu and Kashmir-both on borders with Pakistan and China and hinterland apart from Army’s demand to hand it over alternate land before asking it to vacate specific places in the sensitive border State.
In addition to security situation, other issues which figured in the high level meeting held at the residence of Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh for an hour from 4 pm onwards in New Delhi, included relief package for Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) and West Pakistan refugees, rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandit migrants and treating Jammu migrants at par with Kashmir.
The meeting was attended by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, BJP president Amit Shah, Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) Dr Jitendra Singh, National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval, Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi and BJP general secretary, Ram Madhav, the party’s pointman on Jammu and Kashmir.
Sources told the Excelsior that the Army’s demand for alternate land in Jammu and Kashmir before vacating the existing one virtually dominated the meeting and there was strong view that the Army’s demands have to be met with though the meeting didn’t reach any definite conclusion.
Top Ministers, BJP leaders and security officials were of the view that Army had to man vast boundary with Pakistan and China besides carrying out operations against the militants and sometimes, even maintain law and order, in Jammu and Kashmir. Under such circumstances, they were of the view that Army’s trainings and other requirements would suffer in the absence of land.
“No conclusions were drawn in the meeting after the debate, reportedly in view of BJP’s coalition partner in J&K, PDP’s reservations on the issue,” sources said, adding a final decision was likely to be taken in the next few days. However, they said, definitely the Army’s viewpoint will be on board before finalizing any decision.
Excelsior had exclusively reported in its May 5 edition that Army has categorically stated that it wouldn’t vacate the land it was being asked for without getting alternate.
The Army had deputed a delegation from the Northern Command, headquartered at Udhampur, headed by a senior Army officer to Army Headquarters in New Delhi to work out the options for handing of Army land in hinterland in time-bound manner but with a rider that it would get alternate land from the State.
Presently, the Army has been asked to vacate 1710.77 kanals of land at Tattoo Grounds, 297 kanals land at Wuzur and 220 kanals of land at Kalsar, all areas falling in the Kashmir valley, 136 kanals of land at Jammu Airport and 130 kanals land at Leh. Apart from this, it has also been asked to vacate the land at Jammu University, which falls under the Western Command.
Sources said the Home and Defence Ministries were concerned over “very specific inputs” emanating from the Intelligence agencies about confluence of militants on Pakistan and PoK side of IB and LoC respectively and their “all out attempts with the help of forces across the border” to infiltrate into Jammu and Kashmir to create disturbances during the summer.
The top brass of Central Government and the BJP discussed the report of Defence Secretary G Mohan Kumar, who had visited Jammu and Pathankot for two days on May 15 and 16 and briefed the Defence Minister on the basis of reports gathered by him from top military officials.
Sources said a message has gone to Army and BSF to remain on very high alert on the borders while para-military forces were told to keep strict vigil on mischief mongers, who could try to disturb tourist season in Jammu and Kashmir, which, as per reports available with the Centre, was going on very well, which was not being digested by some of the separatists, who always want to create trouble in the States especially the Kashmir valley.
The meeting also had review of reports that “forces inimical to peace in Jammu and Kashmir” were trying to facilitate infiltration attempts from across LoC and IB into J&K to create fresh disturbances.
Sources said the NSA and the Home Secretary gave detailed briefing to the meeting on security scenario of Jammu and Kashmir including number of the militants, Over Ground Workers etc operating in the State, role of separatists and steps required to tackle incidents of stone pelting on security forces during the encounters. However, the meeting was satisfied with the fact that incidents of stone pelting on security forces during gunbattle have considerably gone down during past about one and half month.
According to sources, the issues of package to West Pakistan, PoK and other refugees in Jammu, rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandit migrants in the Kashmir valley and treating Jammu migrants at par with Kashmiri migrant figured in the meeting.
There was unanimity in the meeting on one-time package to PoK and West Pakistan refugees saying the Modi Government and the BJP were always committed to their cause. It pointed out that the Centre had already approved Rs 2000 crores worth package for PoK refugees in the Prime Minister’s Re-construction Plan worth Rs 80,000 crores announced on Nov 7 last year.
The Government was working out similar package for West Pakistani refugees, which could be unveiled soon.
As far as Jammu migrants were concerned, sources said, there was unanimity in the meeting that the Court directions for providing relief to them at par with Kashmir migrants should be implemented.
The Centre, sources said, remained committed to rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandit migrants to the Valley and meeting out their other demands for which the Union Home Ministry was already on the job.
“There was a general discussion on Jammu and Kashmir to understand what is happening. Different issues like security situation, deployment of forces were discussed. We have also discussed about general political scenario of the State,” Parrikar told reporters after the meeting.
Parrikar said issues related to border with Pakistan, situation along the border, deployment of paramilitary forces and flood relief related matters were discussed.
Asked whether any strategic decision has been taken, Parrikar said such issues cannot be discussed in public.
On the issue of infiltration from across the border, the Defence Minister said security forces were neutralizing militants who try to sneak into India.
Meanwhile, briefing media persons after the meeting, Minister of State in Prime Minister’s Office, Dr Jitendra Singh said the high level meeting reviewed current overall situation in Jammu and Kashmir.
“Various other issues were also discussed during the meeting,” he said.
Dr Jitendra Singh said further course of action on inputs given by security agencies on security situation in the State came up for thorough review in the meeting.
“The meeting also took cognizance of emerging scenarios but no conclusions were drawn,” he added.
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