Excelsior Correspondent
ARNIA, Oct 7: Provincial President National Conference Devender Singh Rana today said that political instability in Pakistan is emerging as a serious threat to peace in the subcontinent.
“The unprovoked shelling on borders is an act of desperation and manifestation of attrition among different power centres in Pakistan”, Mr Rana said during his visit to Arnia, which witnessed killing of five civilians in the wake of continued firing from across the borders.
The Provincial President said silence of guns after the ceasefire agreement between India and Pakistan during the tenure of Atal Behari Vajpayee had instilled a sense of confidence among the people living along Line of Control and International Border for the past over one decade. However, the intermittent and unprovoked firing from across the border in the recent past has vitiated the atmosphere to such an extent that uncertainty and insecurity prevails among the residents, who were now feeling apprehensive about their security.
“This has terribly affected activity in the border areas, as fear of roaring guns keeps looming large on the residents”, he said adding that along side life getting standstill the academics of children is largely suffering, which is a matter of grave concern
Expressing deep anguish and grief over killings, Mr Rana lauded the valour of people living in forward areas for braving the brunt with courage and fortitude. He described them as the first line of defence and said the people of the State are proud of them.
“The entire State is saddened by killing of innocent civilians and displacement of the border dwellers due to continuous shelling”, Mr Rana said while interacting with inmates of a camp lodging sufferers of about ten villages of the Arnia sector.
Mr Rana conveyed condolences to the bereaved families and prayed for early recovery of the injured. He said the border people have been living in a state of fear as the neighbouring country has bade adieu to civilised behaviour.
The Provincial President reiterated the need for identifying safer zones near the borders so that people can take refuge during eventualities like the cross border shelling. He said Omar led Government has taken up the issue with the Centre.
Referring to the visit of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah yesterday to the affected areas, Mr Rana said that National Conference cadre has been directed to ensure safe lodging of the border people who have suffered immensely due to intermittent firing. He assured the inmates that all possible steps would be taken for their well-being during this hour of crisis. He said that on the directions of the Chief Minister the National Conference functionaries will remain with the people so that redressal of their problems is sought on immediate basis.
Mr Rana had a detailed interaction with the firing sufferers and assured them that their problems will be taken up at appropriate level. He appreciated the Army for making adequate arrangements for safe lodging of the border residents.
The Provincial President was accompanied by State Vice Presidents Rattan Lal Gupta and Th Kashmira Singh, senior leaders Brij Mohan Sharma, Jugal Mahajan and Gurdeep Singh Sasan besides the party candidates for the ensuing Assembly elections from the belt, Dr Kamal Arora and Taranjeet Singh Tony.
The National Conference leaders visited Rehal, Deoli and Selhar in the Arnia area and conveyed the families which have lost their kith and kin in the unfortunate firing. They also visited Flora village in Suchetgarh.
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