Pak must act on Modi’s suggestion of jointly fighting poverty: CM

‘J&K worst sufferer due to cross border firing’

Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, Jan 24: While batting for better India-Pak ties and restoration of permanent peace on borders, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti today said that  Pakistan must act on the suggestion of  Prime Minister, Narendra Modi to jointly fight the menace of poverty by both the neighbouring countries.

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While responding to a joint question of Qaiser Jamsheed Lone (NC), Pardeep Sharma (BJP) and Yash Paul Sharma (PDP) on damage caused to people due to Indo-Pak firing along International Border and Line of Control, in the Upper House here today, the Chief Minister said, ” I hope Pakistan will respond to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent suggestion on collectively fighting poverty in both the countries.”
Referring to an interview of Modi on a TV channel recently, the Chief Minister said Pakistan must consider the suggestion of the Prime Minister. She said in both the countries, many people are poor. “It is not wise to waste out resources and energy in such mindless firing. The people on both the sides are being killed and receiving fatal injuries. Many houses have been damaged, live stock perished. The killings on border should stop now”, she maintained.
The Chief Minister emphasised on better Indo-Pak ties terming them as crucial for peace and development of the State. She expressed hope that Pakistan should reciprocate positively to Modi’s  statement that instead of fighting against each other, both the neighbours need to wage war against the menaces of poverty and other problems being faced by them.
“It is unfortunate that world has entered into new age but we are still living in the stone age when people used to live in caves during that era,” the Chief Minister said adding that “bunkers can be built to save the lives but what about education of the school children in border areas, which is a matter of serious concern.”
The Chief Minister said, “for how long J&K will remain a battle field  between the two nations? For how long our jawans will sacrifice their lives?”
” As and when the relations between the two neighbouring countries turn strained, J&K emerged as the greatest sufferer. Pakistan has border with other States as well but every time J&K becomes the prime victim. We have been trapped,”  Mehbooba maintained.
“It is very unfortunate that we are talking and discussing here construction of bunkers but there are so many other good things of public welfare to discuss. It is rather very shameful that  instead of focusing on the development of border areas and the people living there, the Governments have to look into the issue of the survival of the border people,” Ms Mufti regretted.
The Chief Minister made special mention of the great and visionary role played by former Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee for restoration of peace on Indo-Pak borders, and said  during Vajpayee’s time, borders were normal and peaceful. The marriage ceremonies near borders used to take place, children used to happily go to schools and farmers were carrying out their normal activities without any fear,” she said and added that there is a need of similar environment on borders.
“Construction of bunkers along borders is no solution to the prevailing situation,” she said, adding, “we have to collectively think about the policy so that permanent peace can be restored on the borders.”
The Chief Minister further said that Pakistan was a small country and the people are too living in poverty there. She said death and destruction is not confined to this side only. Many people on that side of the border also die in cross border firing but it has to stop now. She assured the House that in the wake of shelling along the borders, Government has been constructing bunkers for the border people, yet she maintained that it could not be a permanent solution to the problems of the border people.
The Chief Minister said along IB many bunkers have been constructed and the activity is going on regarding bunkers along LoC. She also assured to take up the matter with Union Government.
Earlier, replying to the main question, Minister for Revenue and Parliamentary Affairs, Abdul Rehman Veeri said that about 25 civilians were killed and 152 injured during last two years in cross border firing in different parts of the State.
Veeri said that during 2016, two people were killed in Jammu, six in Samba, two in Rajouri and three in Poonch while in 2017, one civilian was killed in Jammu, three in Rajouri, seven in Poonch and one in Baramulla.
Giving more details regarding injured civilians, the Minister replied that during 2016, 40 persons were injured in Jammu, nine in Samba, four in Kathua, six in Rajouri, 20 in Poonch and four in Kupwara. In 2017,  18 got injured in Jammu, 10 in Rajouri, 47 in Poonch and four in Baramulla district.
Referring to damage caused to property during this period due to shelling Veeri said that in Jammu 80 houses were damaged, in Samba 28, Kathua 13, Rajouri 13 and Poonch 31. In Bandipora, 15 houses were damaged, two mosques and a school while in Baramulla and Kupwara, one and 40 houses were damaged due to firing, Veeri maintained.
On policy with the Government for rehabilitation of victims and compensation paid to the victims, Veeri said, adding that  “as precautionary measures, people residing in the border districts are shifted to safer places temporarily in Government and private accommodations , where they are provided basic amenities like health care, drinking water, power, temporary toilet, sanitation, security etc.
“Further security has been increased in border areas and anti-infiltration grid strengthened,” Veeri said adding that police deployment was increased and adequate security provided in the border villages to ensure protection of property.
“A committee has also been constituted by Government of India to monitor the problems being faced by the people residing near Line of Control,” Veeri said.
He also disclosed that 14,460 bunkers with the cost of Rs 415.73 crores are being constructed in border districts of Jammu division. 37 bunkers have been constructed under BADP in border blocks of Jammu. A proposal worth Rs 503. 41 crore for community type bunkers in Kashmir Division has been sent to Government of India.
Earlier MLCs Qaiser Lone, Shahnaz Ganai, Surinder Choudhary and  Yash Pal Sharma raised questions regarding border shelling and bunkers in the House.
Qaisar Lone pressed for 5 Marla plots to the border people on which Veeri said the Government has not taken final decision in this regard as yet, while Surinder Choudhary said the ex-gratia relief of Rs one lakh given to the people killed on borders was very less. Qaiser Lone, however, walked out from the House on the plea that Government failed to give satisfactory reply.

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