Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 19: Fast tracking of strategic assets is in overall national interest and should not be causing any botheration to the patriotic citizens of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
This was stated today by Brig Anil Gupta, spokesperson of J&K Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). He regretted that there are certain elements for which political interests are always above the national interests and they can go to any length to promote their petty politics.
The BJP leader was referring to referring to the ‘objections’ raised by some regional parties in Kashmir over the decision of the Government regarding power of declaration of strategic areas in Jammu and Kashmir. Welcoming the Government decision, Gupta said the decision will delegate the Armed Forces themselves the responsibility of ensuring that construction activities are undertaken as per the existing provisions of the Developmental Control Regulation of the Master Plan and all environmental safeguards are adhered to in the notified “strategic areas.”
“In the past, Governments have been reluctant to meet the genuine needs of the security forces for habitat as well as training purposes apart from the operational infrastructure. Due to non-availability of Field Firing Ranges and reluctance of the Government to notify them, the troops stationed here had to go to as far as Rajasthan to fire their weapons,” rued Brig Gupta.
He took to task the Kashmir centric political parties who went to the extent of terming the provision as an attempt to undermine civil authority and convert the whole region into a ‘military establishment’. It’s a pity that these leaders are misleading the people in the matters of national security because they prefer active borders and disturbed law and order instead of peace, stated Brig Gupta.
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