Fayaz Bukhari
Srinagar, July 2: Union Home Minister, Rajnath Singh, today said that Government of India wants friendly relations with Pakistan but Islamabad will also have to think about its approach towards India.
Singh told reporters at Rajbhawan today after paying obeisance at the Amarnath cave Shrine that Government at the Centre made its intention clear to Pakistan on the oath ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi last year.
“We made our intention clear on the day of oath ceremony. If it were not our intention to improve our relations with Pakistan, perhaps our Prime Minister would not have invited the Pakistan PM to the oath ceremony,” he said.
Singh said that India wants friendly relations with all its neighbouring countries including Pakistan. “I want to say from the depth of my heart that Pakistan is our neighburing country. We want not only good but friendly relations with all our neighbouring countries including Pakistan”, he said.
Referring to former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee’s statement, Home Minister said there will be no let up on part of his Government to improve relations with Pakistan. “Atal Ji used to say time and again that we can change friends but not neighbours. We also believe in that .. There will be no let up in our efforts but Pakistan will have to think about it,” he added.
Asked if the Centre has any plans to hold talks with separatist groups in the State, Singh said there was no such proposal before his Ministry. “We have no proposal to hold talks with the separatists in Jammu and Kashmir. We are ready to listen, talk to anyone but anti-national activities should be opposed and boycotted,” he added.
Home Minister said the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) will be revoked when the situation is conducive for it. “I want to say that the situation should be such, and I pray to Almighty, that AFSPA should not be needed anywhere in the country.”
Singh said all the stakeholders will have to cooperate in order to revoke the act. “We will need cooperation of one and all to achieve this goal,” he added.
Asked if the PDP-BJP Government will last full term given the differences over various issues between the two parties, Home Minister said there is no reason to believe otherwise. “There is no reason to believe that this Government will not last its full term,” he said.
On the security situation, Singh said he is confident that it will not be allowed to deteriorate. “I am confident that the situation in Kashmir will not be allowed to deteriorate. We need the cooperation of people of Jammu and people of Kashmir for improving the situation here,” he said.
The Home Minister said that Prime Minister is concerned about Jammu and Kashmir, and assured maximum possible assistance to the victims of the last year’s devastating floods.
“I want to assure the State Government of maximum possible assistance for relief and rehabilitation in future as well. The PM is also concerned about Jammu and Kashmir,” Singh said.
Responding to a question about the recent package of Rs 1600 crore for flood victims, Home Minister said the Central Government does not provide the entire assistance in one go. “It is given in installments. We have given some, it should be spent first,” he said.
Singh said the Centre is sensitive towards Jammu and Kashmir and acted quickly soon after the floods hit the State in September last year. “You must have seen I came to visit immediately and a day later PM also came. I think if we were not sensitive towards Jammu and Kashmir, we would not have acted so quickly.
The Prime Minister also announced a relief package immediately after the floods,” he said.
Asked about the challenge due to inclement weather during the 59-day Amarnath yatra, Home Minister assured the State Government of Central assistance to deal with such situation. “The State Government must have taken necessary precautions to deal with any weather changes, if any. We have assured of any kind of Central assistance required to deal with any such situation,” he said.
Singh expressed satisfaction over the arrangements especially security for the yatra. “Shri Amarnathji yatra started today and I had decided that I will go on the first day. In fact, I came here a day earlier to review the security-related arrangements with the security officers,” he said.
“I am fully confident about the security in this place. The security arrangements are good. I spoke to the yatris and they were saying that efforts have been made by the State Government to make the pilgrimage smooth as compared to previous years”, he said. “There is need to make it smoother in coming time”, he added.
Meanwhile, Rajnath Singh met Governor N N Vohra at the Raj Bhawan today.
Singh and the Governor had extensive discussions about issues relating to external and internal security management. They also discussed matters relating to relief and rehabilitation of the flood victims and about the arrangements made for the Shri Amarnathji Yatra which commenced today morning.
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