Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Sept 28: Keeping up his promise with the people of Ladakh, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh is visiting the mountain locked region on a two-day visit on October 3 and 4 for inter-acting with cross-sections of society and reviewing situation along Indo-Pak and Sino Indian frontiers with commanders of Army, Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and senior officers of civil and police administration.
Though Rajnath Singh’s visit is primarily aimed at satisfying the anger the people of Ladakh including BJP’s own Lok Sabha member from the region, Thupstan Chhewang had displayed openly on neglect of Ladakh by All Party Delegation (APD), which had visited Jammu and Kashmir regions on September 3 and 4, sources said the Union Home Minister would have detailed review of the situation along Line of Control (LoC) with Pakistan in Leh and Kargil and Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China in Leh as India was not taking any chances on its frontiers with the two neighbours in view of heightened tension between India and Pakistan in the aftermath of Uri attack.
Official sources told the Excelsior that Rajnath Singh will be meeting delegations from all political parties, social and religious organizations and individuals on his arrival in Leh on October 3. He will listen to the grievances of the people including their views on Jammu and Kashmir situation. He will visit Kargil on October 4.
Deputy Commissioner, Leh, Prasanna Ramaswamy would give a detailed brief to the Home Minister on developmental works undertaken in Leh district. While Ladakh MP Thupstan Chhewang would be accompanying Singh, Ladakh Affairs and Cooperative Minister Chering Dorjey and Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), Leh Chairman/CEC Dr Sonam Dawa would brief the Home Minister. The Ladakh MP, Dorjey and Dawa all belonged to the BJP.
Sources said that during his two-day stay in Ladakh, Rajnath would also visit Kargil, his first after assuming charge as the Home Minister.
According to sources, the Home Minister would hold high level review of security situation on the Indian frontiers with China and Pakistan in Leh and Kargil districts with top commanders of Army and ITBP. While the ITBP, a para-military force, mans the un-demarcated LAC with China in Leh, Army was deployed on LoC with Pakistan in Leh and Kargil.
While everything was normal on LoC with Pakistan in Ladakh, Chinese troops on some occasions did indulge in incursions inside the Indian territory but, according to sources, these issues are sorted out immediately by the two sides by meeting at the Border Meeting Points (BMPs). However, no significant incursions have been reported in any part of Leh by the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) for the past two years now.
The Sino-Indian Army commanders hold regular meetings at the BMPs on either side as per the requirement, sources said, adding that the issues pertaining to both sides are being resolved amicable during the meetings.
Sources said the Centre was very much concerned about development infrastructure especially along the China border, which has been lacking very badly as no attention was paid on this front by the previous Governments.
However, Narendra Modi headed Government has been paying major focus on development of infrastructure including road and railway networks right up to the LAC with China in Leh and other States where India shares un-demarcated LAC with the neighbouring country including Himachal Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim and Uttarakhand.
Rajnath Singh would assess situation along China and Pakistan frontiers in Ladakh including requirements of Army and ITBP to match strength of the PLA, sources said, adding that several initiatives have already been taken by the Centre to equip the Army and ITBL with better quality infrastructure.
“The focus now was on to take road network right up to the LAC with China. Though rail networks have also been proposed up to Leh via Pathankot-Bilaspur-Manali in Himachal Pradesh, the rail network could take time in view of hilly locations,” sources said pointing out that China has taken both road and rail networks right up to the LAC on their side.
It may be mentioned here that several organizations of Ladakh including BJP’s own Lok Sabha member, Thupstan Chhewang had strongly resented neglect of Ladakh region by the All Party Delegation, which had only visited Jammu and Kashmir during its two-day visit on September 4 and 5.
At the end of visit, Rajnath had assured the people of Ladakh that he would shortly visit the region.
Sources said Rajnath Singh would be fulfilling his promise to the people of Ladakh within a month. The people of Ladakh had for the first time elected the BJP MP and gave two-third majority to the party in LAHDC, Leh elections.
PTI adds from New Delhi:-
Apprehending protracted unrest in Kashmir valley, the Centre has started preparation for providing winter logistics to central paramilitary forces deployed in Jammu and Kashmir.
The Home Ministry has already approached the Army and supplying agencies to provide winter boots, socks, jackets, snow gloves and other warm clothing which would be required by around 70,000 paramilitary forces deployed in the State.
A top Home Ministry official is personally monitoring the procurement process and trying to ensure that all required items are delivered before the onset of the “harsh winter” ahead.
“We are really worried about the boys on the ground. We have to get all winter logistics well before the time as Kashmir is expected to have a harsh winter,” a senior official said.
Unrest in Kashmir continues ever since the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen militant Burhan Wani on July 8 leading to deployment of paramilitary forces across the Kashmir valley.
“We have to be prepared in case the turmoil continues for a longer period, especially during winter,” the official said.
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