Avtar Bhat
Katra, July 31: Amid the ongoing unrest in Kashmir over Hizbul commander Burhan Wani’s killing, Union Minister Jitendra Singh today said the security forces engaged in anti- militancy operations in the Valley know their work well and everyone should trust their “wisdom” and “discretion”.
“It is not necessary (for me) to comment on someone’s statement. As far as we are concerned, it is our understanding that security forces should be allowed to do their work,” the Minister of State in the PMO told reporters here on the sidelines of a function.
“Security forces know their job better than all of us and we must trust their capacity, their discretion and their wisdom how to go about an anti-militancy operation,” Singh said.
Asked about the unrest in the Valley, Singh said the situation was slowly returning to normalcy.
“The State Government has got the full support from the Central Government. With the coordinated efforts of security forces, State Government and Central Government the situation has been brought under control,” Singh said.
Replying to a question about holding talks with separatists, Singh said such decisions are taken only after “timely review” by concerned departments and Ministries.
“The decision is taken by the Home Ministry and it’s not the time to debate on such issues in public,” he said.
Commenting on the development activities underway in the State, Singh said the activities had witnessed a halt in the past 60 years but gathered pace after the Narendra Modi Government took over.
“To name a few, work on projects like Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Expressway was in full swing. When completed, this project will reduce the travel time between Delhi and Katra. The Prime Minister is expected to inaugurate the Chenani-Nashri tunnel on Jammu-Srinagar National Highway in September,” he said.
Dr Singh made it clear that there is a national policy to deal with terrorism and Modi Government has already announced that there will be zero tolerance towards terrorism which has eaten up vitals of society over the years. “We have to leave it to security forces alone that how best they can deal with terrorism,” he added.
In response to a question of media persons regarding repeated interference of politicians in the working of security forces, the Union Minster said “we have a democratic set up hence we should avoid in trespassing in each other’s jurisdiction”.
Regarding Pakistan’s involvement in sending armed desperados to Kashmir and other parts of India to foment trouble, Dr Singh said Pakistan has now been totally exposed before the international community on its recent role over Kashmir. Earlier, it was defending itself saying that it was not Pakistan but some non State actors who were involved in terrorism in J&K or other parts of India, he added.
He said in case these were the non state actors still Pakistan was to blame as they were operating from its soil and it was supposed to act against them. But after the recent killing of dreaded terrorist Burhan Wani the myth has been blown out after Pakistan directly tried to take credit of its support to secessionist movement and terrorism in Kashmir, he added.
Dr Singh said there are series of incidents which indicate the involvement of Pakistan in terrorism in J&K and other parts of the country.
On the proposed visit of Union Home Minster, Rajnath Singh to Pakistan to attend the SAARC Home Ministers meeting there, Dr Singh said during the meet the HM is not going to engage in bilateral talks with Pakistan and will remain confined to discuss the mutual issues of SAARC.
When asked will India raise Pakistan’s involvement in Kashmir at SAARC, the Union Minister said entire world is coming around the India and so far as support to terrorism by Pakistan is concerned “it stands isolated as well as exposed before the world community”, .
“Even Pakistan been exposed for human rights violations in PoK, Gilgit, Baltistan and Baluchistan”, he said.
Accusing Pakistan of having serious links with terror, Dr Singh said that the security forces should take cognizance of reported statement of mastermind of terrorism in Pakistan Hafiz Sayed that Ashia Indrabi had contacted him recently.
In response to another question that NC was trying to be fish in troubled waters so far as present situation in Valley is concerned, the Union Minister said that experience from politics in Kashmir valley revealed that those who try to become fish in troubled waters themselves fall in trouble later.
He said that for the relief and rescue operations in flood hit States effective and prompt steps were taken by Modi led Government and HM visited to assess the situation in Assam yesterday. He (HM) assured all help and assistance to the State Governments from Centre, Dr Singh added.
He said there has been tremendous progress in rescuing the cattle in flood hit areas of the country this time.
Earlier, addressing the programme of Sewa Bharti, Dr Singh lauded the role, selfless service and dedication of volunteers associated with the organization. He said they are doing a yeoman’s service to the nation.
Dr Singh, who also inaugurated the road to Disha Chatarvaas, said that it was constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 50 lakh. He assured the organization members that he will be ready to do any work for the betterment of this social organisation assigned to him future too.
While lauding the role of Disha Chatarvaas run by Sewa Bharti he said, out of 40 students who come from various areas of the State, 10 are Muslims and this institute has kept the Guru Shisha Parampara (teacher-student tradition) alive. “When the people are involved in caste, communal and regional conflicts, the institutes like Disha Chatarvaas have kept our hopes of unity in diversity alive”. “The problems faced by the nation will not have solution through the political speeches but through these institutions which are in real sense working for nation building and strengthening inter community bonds”, he added.
Dr Singh also urged Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board to extend its help and support in development of Katra town and strongly advocated that the local public representative be included as member of Shrine Board as its ex-officio member.
He also highlighted the various development programmes undertaken in the State in general and his constituency in particular during Modi Government and said that Asia’s first art tunnel will be soon dedicated to nation at Chenani by Prime Minister while North India’s first Biotech Park has been set up at Ghati Kathua. He said Atal Sethu was dedicated to nation by this Government and under Rs 500 crore National Aroma Mission medicinal plants cultivation has been initiated from Kathua district last year and next year it will be started at Katra. This will be a source of employment generation as well as income to the local people , he added.
Dr Singh also said that with the construction of Delhi -Katra Corridor via Amritsar the distance from Delhi to Katra will be shortened to five hours only and from next year Banana cultivation will also be started from Katra.
Earlier, Minster of State for Finance, Ajay Nanda, Joint Secretary Sports Council and Mrs Khosa president Sewa Bharti also spoke on the occasion. A plantation drive was also launched in the premises of Sewa Bharti in collaboration with IIIM, Jammu and Ram Vishwakarma, Director IIIM Jammu besides DC Reasi were also present on the occasion.
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