Govt stands fully behind security forces
Give specific instance of excesses, will hold probe
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Feb 6: Governor Satya Pal Malik today hit out at People’s Democratic Party (PDP) president and former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti for her remarks against brave Army Major Rohit Shukla saying there was no need to take Mehbooba seriously and charged her with making such statements to garner support as her party was breaking and was in worst condition.
Asserting that morale of security forces was very high, the Governor declared that the Government was fully behind the security forces and won’t allow their morale to come down with such statements of Mehbooba Mufti.
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Malik was speaking to media persons after attending a function at University of Jammu in connection with 25th Annual Day celebrations of All Ladakh Students Welfare Association, Jammu (ALSWAJ).
“Chunaav Ka Waqt Hai. Unki Party Toot Rahi Hai. Kharaab Haal Mein Hai. Wo Isi Kism Ke Support Se Taakat Mein Aayi Thi. Unko Seriously Lene Ki Zarurat Nahin Hai. Humare Suraksha Balon Ka Kisi Mehbooba Mufti Ji Ke Bayan Se Manobal Nahin Girne Diya Jayega (This is an election time. Her party is breaking. It’s in worst condition. She had come to power with such type of support. There is no need to take her seriously. We won’t allow morale of our security forces to go down with Mehbooba Mufti’s statement),” Malik said responding to a question by media persons on Mehbooba’s remarks against brave Army officer Major Rohit Shukla whom she had charged with committing excesses on the civilians.
Declaring that the Government was fully behind security forces, the Governor said system of the Indian Army as well as our country is very powerful and it can’t be demoralized by a statement (of Mehbooba Mufti).
“Why you don’t have sympathy with her (Mehbooba’s) party. It’s breaking,” he said responding to a question.
Malik, however, asserted that if any specific instance of excesses by security forces was brought to notice of the Government, it will be probed.
“We have given directions to our security forces that there should be no excesses with the civilians. They (the security personnel) don’t commit any excesses. We came to know about some cases (of excesses) by police in which the officers concerned were shifted. We fully stand by our forces,” the Governor said.
Responding to another question that Olympian bronze medalist, Bhanu Partap Singh has been denied the post of DySP in Police Department, which was assured previously, Malik assured that it will be looked into.
Meanwhile, both PDP president Mehbooba Mufti as well as her arch political rival, National Conference vice president and former Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah reacted to the statement of Satya Pal Malik, targeting Mehbooba.
“Instead of taking cognizance of the brutality that the young boy has been subjected to and ordering action against the culprits, it is sad that the Governor is talking politics instead,” Mehbooba Mufti said in a tweet.
She said she was saddened to see the Constitutional authorities taking sides so brazenly.
Omar Abdullah too described the statement of Malik as “unacceptable” and “unnecessary interference in politics”.
“Governor Sb this is an unacceptable statement and an unnecessary interference in politics. At this rate it won’t be long before people stop taking Raj Bhavan seriously. So please consider the office you occupy before you give statement,” Omar tweeted.
PDP chief spokesman Rafi Ahmad Mir also charged the Governor with “unreasonably interfering in politics of Kashmir and influencing the elections and the electorate against PDP”.
“It is unfortunate that instead of taking note of unabated human rights violations in Kashmir, the Governor is meddling in political affairs of parties,” Mir said in a statement.
Addressing the function of 25th Annual Day celebrations of All Ladakh Students Welfare Association (ALSWA), the Governor highlighted importance of Students’ Unions in the Universities and Colleges saying he too was president of his College Students Union when he met Choudhary Charan Singh, who made him Secretary General of the party.
“And then, the journey started and I was elected as MLA at the age of 26, then MP and became the Minister later,” he recalled and said National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval was also his class-fellow.
Malik said Leh was such a beautiful place that he would like to live there for couple of months in a year after retirement.
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