Centre ready for dialogue with all right-minded people
Fayaz Bukhari
SRINAGAR, June 7: Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh today appealed to the people of Jammu and Kashmir to help bring in peace saying else “we might lose another generation of the State to darkness”.
He also said the Centre was ready to hold dialogue with all “right-minded” people if not “like-minded”, a statement seen as an olive branch to the separatists.
Addressing a press conference later, he said that the Centre was ready to hold talks with all right-minded people and Pakistan, provided the neighbouring country stopped terror activities emanating from its soil. Click here to watch video
During a function held at Sher-e-Kashmir Indoor Sports Stadium, the Home Minister made a passionate appeal to the youth not to fall prey to the propaganda campaign being carried out from across the border and their stooges in the State.
He said the Central and the State Governments would make every effort to change the “face and destiny” of the State by empowering the youth with education and helping them excel in sports, and added that New Delhi took into consideration the fact that youngsters had been “mislead” into stone pelting on security forces before taking a decision to withdraw such cases against them.
“We believe that children anywhere are same. We understand that a few youths were misled into stone pelting… Children can make mistakes… (And) that is why we decided to withdraw the cases…,” Singh said, adding that “with the help of Jammu and Kashmir Government, we will change the face and destiny of the State”.
“There is extreme love in the heart of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for Jammu and Kashmir. It is our responsibility to provide a secure future to the youth and it can be done with the power of education and miracle of sports,” the Home Minister said and urged the youth of Kashmir valley not to tread the path of destruction.
“I want to appeal to the youth that they should take the path of development.”
At the press conference, he made it clear that while the Centre was ready to talk with all concerned people and groups and that was why the Government had appointed a special representative.
“The special representative has not been appointed for sightseeing. He has come here 11 times so far,” the Home Minister said, referring to the appointment of Dineshwar Sharma in October last year, while appealing to the people of the State to come forward for bringing back peace “lest we might lose another generation of the State to the darkness”.
Asked if the unilateral ceasefire announced by the Centre in Jammu and Kashmir would be extended beyond Ramzan, he said a decision in this regard would be taken after reviewing the situation thoroughly.
“The Prime Minister took a decision on the suspension of operation during Ramzan after giving it due thought. We took this decision keeping in view the situation of the common people of the State…. A decision on extending it beyond Ramzan will be taken after reviewing the situation,” he said.
Without naming separatists, Singh said they should refrain from misleading the youth into violence. “They give education to their own kids and stones in the hands of other kids. I appeal to them to treat the kids of others just like they treat their own,” he said.
Referring to Pakistan, the Home Minister said some powers were covertly or overtly using terrorism. “They should understand that terrorism has no religion…When it will devour whom no one can say with certainty,” he said.
Maintaining that the Centre’s stand since beginning was that New Delhi was willing to talk to everyone, Singh said, “At least our neighbouring country Pakistan should prevent terror activities on its soil. And if you (Pakistan) are not able to stop terrorism, why don’t you take help from your neighbouring country India.”
Singh lashed out at militant groups saying they were not relenting in their nefarious activities even during the holy fasting month. “Those who are not giving up their nefarious activities even in the holy month of Ramzan, should their activities not be called unholy. I would like to say that to mislead the youth is not only deceit but it is a crime,” he added.
Singh said India was the only country in the world where all important religions of the world were being practised. “There is no Islamic country in the world which has all the 72 sects of Islam. If there is any country where all these sects can be found, it is India. (Then why) so much of hatred for that India!” he said.
Singh said that concerned about the plight of those misled into stone pelting, the Centre has decided to withdraw cases against nearly 10,000 people who were involved in stone pelting for the first time.
“Don’t forget that Atal Bihari Vajpayee used to talk about Jamhooriyat (democracy), Kashmiriyat and Insaniyat. Today, I want to ask those who are wielding the gun, do they believe in democracy?”, he asked.
He said the Prime Minister from ramparts of the Red Fort said that “we want a solution to problem of Jammu and Kashmir, not by firing bullets but by embracing (the people). When we talk about Kashmiryat it includes Hazratbal as well as Amarnath”.
When asked about various statements made by various BJP leaders on Kashmir which is giving confusing signals, Singh said that whatever Prime Minister and Home Minister say it should be considered and nothing else. He said the BJP Government is firmly committed to solve the problems of Kashmir and not to let it linger on.
“Giving your children the best of education and handing out stones to the children of others? What is this? I always felt there is a lot of talent in the youth here, IAS, IIM etc results are a proof. Youth are being misguided by certain forces,” he said.
Praising the armed forces and Jammu and Kashmir Police, he said, “I have no hesitation in saying that our security forces, including the Army and police, have worked with utmost restraint.
Home Minister assured that the Government is committed for the development of Jammu and Kashmir, for which Prime Minister’s Package of Rs 80,068 crores is being implemented. He complemented the State Government for effective implementation of various projects and schemes.
Singh said that presently India is recognized as world’s fastest growing economy and anti-national powers are attempting to create hurdles in order to destabilize the country. India is capable of defeating their nefarious designs.
Home Minister said while recognizing the talent among the youth of the State said that about 85 young Gold medalists have brought laurels in the field of sports not only to the State but to the whole country showing exemplary performances at the international level. “Measures have been taken towards the improvement of sports infrastructure across the State which will prove to be a catalyst to further nurture the already existing talent pool”, he said.
Lauding the State Government for carrying out works for improving the sports infrastructure, the Home Minister said funds will not be a problem for promoting sports in Jammu and Kashmir. “Funds will be provided for promotion of water sports at Mansar and Pahalgam… Funds will be arranged for development of sports infrastructure,” he added.
Asserting that many sporting talents have been lost in the dark for many years in Jammu and Kashmir, the Union Home Minister said the youth of the State can change the future and their own fate through ‘Sports Ki Karamat and Taleem Ki Taqat’.
“I believe that the youth of Jammu and Kashmir can change the future and their own fate through Sports Ki Karamat and Taleem Ki Taqat,” Singh said.
“Many sport talents have been lost in the dark for many years in this State. Now they were giving opportunities to the youth and sports talents of the State. We are proud of these achievers who have not only made the State of J&K proud but also the entire nation as well with their achievements. I congratulate all the achievers of the State”, he said.
The Home Minister felicitated prominent sports personalities, including cricketers Parvez Rasool and Manzoor Ahmad and football player Mehrajuddin Wadoo. He also felicitated Tajamul Islam, Palak Kaur and Bavleen Kaur.
Minister of State in PMO, Dr Jitendra Singh, Union Home Secretary, Rajiv Gauba; Minister for Finance, Syed Altaf Bukhari; Secretary, Sports Council and Waheed u Rehman Parra were present on the occasion.
In all around 3000 youth from across Kashmir valley attended today’s Sports Conclave.
Chief Secretary, B B Vyas, Director General of Police, Dr S P Vaid; Principal Secretary, Home, R K Goyal; Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, Rohit Kansal and other senior civil and Police officers were also present on the occasion.
Meanwhile, Rajnath Singh held discussions with Governor N N Vohra at the Raj Bhavan on various important issues relating to security management, efficient delivery of public services and the future growth and development of the State.
The Governor briefed Home Minister about the obtaining internal and external security situation, including the position along the IB and LoC, violations of the ceasefire agreement, and the impact of the suspension of operations by the security forces which was announced by the Government of India on the eve of Ramadhan, on 16 May 2018. He also briefed Home Minister about the arrangements made for the Amarnath Yatra, which begins on June 28.
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