Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, July 9: On his return from six days tour of Israel and Germany, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today held high-level review of security situation in Jammu and Kashmir with Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval. Rajnath and Doval gave detailed briefing to Modi in half an hour long meeting at his residence on the situation along frontiers, internal security and other aspects including implementation of Goods and Services Tax (GST) in J&K after which `One Nation, One Tax’ regime has come into force in the entire country.
Sources told the Excelsior that Jammu and Kashmir security situation figured prominently in the meeting especially the events that took place in the State during past few days including success of Shri Amarnath Ji pilgrimage in South Kashmir Himalayas, which was being thronged by thousands of pilgrims every day, the peace in the Valley on first death anniversary of Hizbul Mujahideen divisional commander Burhan Wani, situation along the frontiers with Pakistan with almost regular exchange of shelling along Line of Control (LoC) and J&K Legislature’s historic nod to implementation of the GST.
The GST was prestigious and ambitious new tax regime of the BJP Government at the Centre but Modi had left for the first-ever tour by any Prime Minister of India to Israel followed by Hamburg, Germany after launching ‘One Nation, One Tax’ schemes in the Central Hall of Parliament without Jammu and Kashmir as by then the State hadn’t given its nod to implementation of the bill.
Sources said Rajnath Singh, whose Ministry had to do lot of efforts burning mid-night oil to get the Presidential Ordinance issued after Jammu and Kashmir Legislature adopted resolution on implementation of the GST, briefed the Prime Minister that entire country has successfully switched over to new tax regime. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley is also expected to give special briefing to the Prime Minister on first 10 days of GST in the country, which was rolled out on the midnight of June30-July 1.
“Rajnath and Doval briefed the Prime Minister on Jammu and Kashmir situation including ongoing annual pilgrimage of Shri Amarnath Ji shrine, which today entered into 11th day with nearly 1.35 lakh pilgrims performing darshan of holy Ice Lingam of Lord Shiva in South Kashmir Himalayas,” sources said.
Safety and security of Shri Amarnath Ji pilgrimage, which has its vast route in South Kashmir especially that of traditional Pahalgam-Chandanwari track, had been a major security challenge for the Centre as well as State Governments this year in view of heightened militancy and unrest in the Valley.
The Ministry of Home Affairs had deployed about 21,000 additional para-military personnel for safety and security of Shri Amarnath Ji pilgrims in the entire State right from Lakhanpur to holy cave shrine, located at the height of about 12,500 feet from the sea level.
Amarnath Ji pilgrimage had started on June 29 and will conclude on August 7 coinciding with Raksha Bandhan and Shravan Purnima. Nearly 1.35 lakh pilgrims have already paid obeisance at the holy cave shrine and the yatra was progressing smoothly and satisfactorily, sources said.
Sources said the Prime Minister also reviewed security situation along the borders with Pakistan in Jammu and Kashmir. While the Internat-ional Border was peaceful for the past quite some time now, the Line of Control remained tense especially in Rajouri and Poonch districts since May 1 when two Indian soldiers were mutilated by Pakistan army in a BAT attack in Krishna Ghati sector.
Only yesterday, an Army jawan and his wife were killed and three others injured in Karmara forward village of Poonch sector while Pakistan has also suffered heavy casualties.
Sources pointed out that various other aspects of security situation in Jammu and Kashmir also came up for high-level review during the meeting the Prime Minister had with the Union Home Minister and the National Security Advisor.
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