Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, July 15: Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti today called on Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh to brief him on security situation in Jammu and Kashmir especially in the aftermath of Monday’s attack on Shri Amarnath Ji pilgrims in Anantnag district in which seven yatris were killed and many others injured.
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Blaming “external forces” for triggering problems in Kashmir, Mehbooba later told reporters that now unfortunately China has also started meddling into it. However, she didn’t elaborate as to what kind of role China was playing to trigger unrest in the already disturbed Kashmir valley.
After India’s stand that it sent troops to Dokalam in Sikkim to help its friend Bhutan, Chinese media had cautioned that their country too could help Pakistan on Kashmir issue. Sino-Indian standoff continued in Dokalam, where troops of both the countries were in an eyeball-to-eyeball position and there seems no immediate end to the major boundary crisis between the two hostile neighbours.
Mehbooba’s statement on Chinese trying to meddle into Kashmir came immediately after her half an hour long meeting with the Home Minister in the Union capital. This is for the first time that any prominent political leader of Jammu and Kashmir, or even the country, has named China for trying to poke its nose into Kashmir affairs.
Hitherto, Indian leadership has been holding Pakistan responsible for aiding and abetting terrorism and unrest in the Kashmir valley. Significantly, Mehbooba didn’t name Pakistan while blaming “external forces” for creating problems in Kashmir.
Mehbooba said: “Kashmir issue is not just a law and order problem. It is happening because of external forces (an indirect reference to Pakistan though she didn’t name the country). The ongoing problem is the handiwork of external forces and now unfortunately China is also trying to meddle into it”.
Saying that all political parties and people of the country were united on Kashmir issue, the Chief Minister expressed confidence that together they would work out a solution to Kashmir problem.
“All political parties…people of the country…all are united in Kashmir. Together, we will work out Kashmir solution. Unless all of us are united, we can’t solve the problem,” she said.
Asserting that Article 370, which grants special status to Jammu and Kashmir, is connected to emotions and feelings of the people in Jammu and Kashmir, Mehbooba said and added the Jammu and Kashmir Government had requested the Central Government for ensuring that Article 370 should not get diluted during implementation of Goods and Services Tax (GST) in the State.
“I am happy that President Pranab Mukherjee, in his order, has reiterated that special status granted to the State would not be diluted,” she added.
Extending gratitude to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh for the help rendered by the Home Ministry during attack on Shri Amarnath Ji pilgrims in Anantnag district on July 11 in which seven pilgrims were killed and many others were injured, Mehbooba reiterated that the attack was aimed at triggering communal riots in the country.
“All through the crisis, the Home Minister had been very supportive,” she remarked.
This was the first meeting Mehbooba Mufti had with Rajnath Singh post-Amarnath yatra attack by the militants in Anantnag district on Monday.
In the meeting, all aspects of Kashmir situation especially security arrangements for Shri Amarnath ji pilgrims were reported to have been discussed in detail. The Chief Minister briefed Rajnath on the security arrangements made for Amarnath Ji pilgrims and steps taken to maintain normalcy in the Kashmir valley.
The implementation of Prime Minister’s Development Plan (PMDP) worth Rs 80,000 crores for Jammu and Kashmir reportedly figured during the meeting.
Sources said security agencies engaged in anti-militancy operations in Jammu and Kashmir have been told to implement security plans with full vigour to ensure that there was no repeat of Monday like attack on the pilgrims.
So far, more than 1.86 lakh pilgrims have visited the high altitude Himalayan shrine of Lord Shiva in South Kashmir Himalayas, which is most disturbed part of the Valley due to increased presence of the militants.
As many as 21,000 paramilitary personnel in addition to State police forces and two battalions of Army have been deployed for security of the pilgrimage routes.
The number of paramilitary personnel deployed this year is 9,500 more than last year.
So far, more than 1.86 lakh pilgrims have visited the high altitude Himalayan shrine.
As many as 21,000 paramilitary personnel in addition to State police forces and two battalions of Army have been deployed for security of the pilgrimage routes.
The number of paramilitary personnel deployed this year is 9,500 more than last year.
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