Even Islamic nations asking Pak to stop terror
‘90% people ready to affiliate with elections’
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Oct 5: Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said today that majority of population in Jammu and Kashmir wanted to involve themselves in ongoing process for elections to Municipalities and Panchayats and only handful of candidates have won unopposed, which too was not a new phenomenon as 43 per candidates won Panchayat elections in West Bengal uncontested recently, even as he maintained that situation has improved in the Valley with security forces doing good job to curb terrorism.
Speaking at Hindustan Times Leadership Summit, Rajnath said 90 per cent population in Jammu and Kashmir was ready to associate themselves with the electoral exercise and that only few seats have gone uncontested in (the Municipal) elections. He added that the Government has dared to undertake political process to hold local elections in the State.
When asked about several BJP candidates getting elected to the Urban Local Bodies in Kashmir unopposed in the ongoing election process, he said in the recently held Panchayat elections in West Bengal, 43 per cent candidates won uncontested and such things are not uncommon.
Municipal elections are being held in the State in four phases on October 8, 10, 13 and 16, which will be followed by nine-phase Panchayat polls. Apart from some candidates getting elected unopposed, few Wards remained uncontested in the Valley.
Asserting that Pakistan has been isolated in the international community for fomenting terrorism, Rajnath pointed out that even the Islamic nations have now been asking Pakistan to stop spreading terrorism. He lauded the cooperation of Indian Muslims in not falling prey to radicalization, which had become a new phenomenon in some countries.
He reiterated that terrorism shouldn’t be linked to any religion or caste.
The Home Minister charged that Pakistan continued to abet infiltration and promoted terrorism but said security forces were giving befitting reply to the neighbouring country.
“Pakistan continued to indulge in unholy activities. All Prime Ministers have tried for good relations with the neighbours but it continued to promote terror,” he regretted.
On his statement that Head Constable Narender Singh’s brutal killing by Pakistan in Ramgarh sector of Samba district has been avenged, Rajnath said he can’t speak anything. “Something had happened on the border and only then I spoke”. The Home Minister had recently stated that the killing of Narender has been avenged by the soldiers in most befitting manner.
Pakistan was being given befitting reply for all ceasefire violations on the borders, he said.
Maintaining that situation has improved in Kashmir, Rajnath said in 1995, 6000 terror-related incidents were recorded in the Valley while the number came down to 360-370 in 2017.
Describing resignations by couple of Special Police Officers (SPOs) as “isolated incident”, the Home Minister said entire force can’t be blamed for this and that Army, para-military forces and Jammu and Kashmir Police have been doing good job with excellent coordination. Because of this coordination, he pointed out, 700 militants have been killed during last four years.
Rajnath said the Central Government has released Rs 500 crore for rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandits in the Valley for which the Governor’s administration would expedite work. He added that previous Government had also been asked to identify land for Kashmiri Pandits, which had been done but work hasn’t started as yet.
Admitting that PDP-BJP coalition Government experiment wasn’t successful in Jammu and Kashmir, the Home Minister said the Government was formed on the basis of an Agenda as both PDP and BJP had emerged No. 1 and No. 2 parties after Assembly elections in the State in view of fractured mandate.
The Home Minister, however, admitted that there were difficulties in bringing back underworld don and 1993 Mumbai serial blasts mastermind Dawood Ibrahim, currently hiding in Pakistan.
Singh said Naxalism was the biggest challenge the nation was facing till a few years ago, but the menace has been contained to a great extent now.
“Naxalism was spread in 126 districts and it has come down to just 50-52 districts now, and among them the worst hit is just 10 to 12 districts,” he said.
Asked about the arrest of some alleged Naxal sympathizers and terming them as “urban Naxals”, Singh said there are people who are trying to incite violence or support violence using Maoism and the Government would allow them to do so.
On Congress President Rahul Gandhi’s allegation that the BJP has taken over some institutions, Singh said the “allegation is baseless”.
“He (Gandhi) should have given at least one example where this has happened. We have always maintained the dignity of every institution in the country,” he said.
On incidents of lynching, the Home Minister said even though the law and order is a state subject, the Central Government has issued a number of advisories to the States asking them to take action.
Commenting on the recent agitation by farmers, Singh said the Government has given some promise to the protesting farmers and those will be fulfilled.
“I have invited the protesting farmers and had discussions with them for two-three hours. We have been in touch with the farmers. I spoke to them when they were agitating. We are still in touch with them and are arriving at a consensus on many matters,” he said.
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