*Kargil splits on UT, no joint delegation
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Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Oct 4: On his first visit to Kargil after taking over as the Union Home Minister about two and half years back, Rajnath Singh today said that entire country including children of India have full faith in the Army and assured the countrymen that the troops will never allow prestige of India to be lowered.
“Don’t doubt the Army’s credibility. We completely back the armed forces. Entire nation including children are standing behind the Army. Every single child of India believed in Army and we must trust them,” he said in a blunt reply to those questioning surgical strikes by Army inside Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) and seeking proof of these strikes.
“I assure the Indians that prestige and honour of this country will never be dented. It is fully safe in the hands of Army,” Rajnath said in a brief chat with media persons in Kargil on second day of his tour to Ladakh. He returned to New Delhi this afternoon.
Rajnath was reacting to statements made by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Congress leader Sanjay Nirupam seeking proof of surgical strikes carried out by the Indian Army inside Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK).
“I haven’t gone through the newspapers for the last two days not heard statements of any political parties but I can say that entire national has full faith in our Army. Desh Kay Har, Bache Ko Sena Par Bharosa Aur Garv Hai (every child has full faith in the Army and is proud of them),” he said.
The Home Minister said the Government of India wouldn’t allow anyone to dent India’s honour and every citizen was standing behind the Army.
Dismissing reports about doubts raised by Congress and Kejriwal (without naming them) on surgical strikes inside PoK, he said the Government will not allow anyone to dent India’s prestige and honour at any cost. “We will ensure that the country’s head is held high”.
Asked about the demand for Union Territory status for Ladakh, which was the only demand projected unitedly by the people of Leh, who yesterday met Rajnath in the form of one united delegation, the Home Minister said he has listened to the people of Kashmir, Jammu as well as Ladakh but a decision will be taken only on the basis of consensus.
“We always try that any decision is taken only on the basis of consensus,” he said.
After reaching New Delhi on completion of two-day visit to Ladakh, Rajnath tweeted: ” Ladakhis are peace loving people, who have always stood shoulder to shoulder with the armed forced in defending the country from any threat.
“Completed my two day tour to Ladakh region of Jammu and Kashmir. I met with nearly 20 delegations from different sections of the society. I also visited Kargil Memorial at Drass this morning and paid tribute to those who laid down their lives while defending the country,” he wrote on twitter.
Yesterday, leaders of all political parties in Leh, cutting across their political affiliations, and religious and social organizations had met Rajnath Singh as one single delegation and put forth only one demand i.e. Union Territory status for Ladakh.
However, the political parties, religious and social organizations in Kargil couldn’t put up a joint platform to oppose demand of UT to Ladakh as two Associations-Buddhist Associ-ation Kargil and Buddhist Association Zanskar refused to oppose the demand. Therefore, sources said, all delegations met Rajnath Singh separately and barring these two organizations, others oppose Leh’s unanimous demand for UT status to Ladakh saying they want to stay with united Jammu and Kashmir.
The two Buddhist organization supported Leh demand for UT status to Ladakh. Sources said several organizations urged Rajnath Singh to extend proposed rail line to Leh up to Kargil, open Kargil-Askardu road on the lines of Uri-Muzaffarabad and Poonch-Rawlakote and accord district status to Zanskar.
Prominent delegations, which called on Rajnath Singh in Kargil in presence of Ladakh MP Thupstan Chhewang, included Congress Party led by Haji Nissar Ali, former Minister, NC unit headed by Qamar Ali Akhoon, former Minister, BJP led by Mohammad Ali Majaz, PDP headed by Kacho Gulzar Hussain, Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), Kargil CEC Kacho Ahmad Ali Khan and former CEC Haji Hanifa Mohammad Jan.
Other delegations included Islamia School Kargil led by former MP Hassan Khan, Imam Khomeni Memorial Trust led by Haji Mohammad Hussain Pashkumpa, Ahla-Sunnat Wal Jamait headed by Mohammad Ali Wani, Anjuman-e-Sahab Zaman led by former MLC Syed Ahmad Rizvi, Buddhist Association Kargil led by Nawang Tsering, Buddhist Association Zanskar headed by Twesang Chotor, Hindu Committee Kargil led by Dev Rah, Sikh Committee Kargil led by Karan Singh, Merchant Association Kargil headed by Haji Mohammad Abass, Travel and Hotelier Association led by Mohammad Hamza, Contractors Association Kargil headed by Mohammad Ali and EJAC Kargil led by Mohammad Mukhtar Khan among others.
Major demands highlighted by the delegations included completion of tendering process and early execution of work on Zojila tunnel, opening of Kargil-Askardu (Pakistan occupied Kashmir) road for trade and divided families, early expansion of Kargil Airport, special recruitment drive for unemployed youths of Kargil in para-military forces and Ladakh Scout Regiment, divisional status for Ladakh region and its headquarter at Kargil, Special Duty Allowance for State employees, who are serving in Ladakh region, , handing over Khurbathang plateau to civil administration, providing ration as per past practice and not through National Food Security Act, release of funds for the projects, which are under Special Task Force for early completion and functional and better telecommunication facilities in Kargil among others.
An official handout issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs at the conclusion of his two-day visit to Leh and Kargil today said, Rajnath Singh met 21 delegations including political parties, religious organizations and civil society groups covering over 150 persons at Kargil this morning.
He heard their issues and accepted memoranda from them. The Home Minister assured them that the Government will look into their demands on merit, the handout said.
Union Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi also accompanied the Home Minister during his two-day visit to Ladakh.
“We will try to resolve their problems as much as possible. If there are issues concerning other Ministries (of Central Government), we will write to them or tell the concerned Ministers,” he said.
Earlier in the morning, Rajnath Singh visited Drass and laid wreath at the Kargil War Memorial in memory of those who sacrificed their lives for the nation including 1999 Kargil war with Pakistan.
Before leaving Leh for Kargil this morning, Rajnath Singh was briefed on situation prevailing on India’s frontiers with China and Pakistan in Ladakh by senior officers of Army and Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP).
He assured them that the Centre Government was committed to raise infrastructure along Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Leh with China to match strength of People’s Liberation Army (PLA).
Deputy Commissioner, Leh, Prasanna Ramaswamy also briefed the Home Minister on infrastructural requirements of Leh.
This is Rajnath Singh’s fourth visit to Jammu and Kashmir ever since the unrest began in the State following the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen militant Burhan Wani on July 8.
Singh had led an All Party Delegation to Srinagar and Jammu on September 4-5.
The leaders of various political parties met over 400 people who came in 50 different delegations representing various sections of society in Srinagar and Jammu.
Earlier, the Home Minister had visited Srinagar on August 24-25 and July 23-24.
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