Host of questions on J&K listed in Monsoon session of Parliament

Targeted killings, Rehab of KPs, overall situation to figure
*MHA gears up with effective replies

Sanjeev Pargal

JAMMU, July 14: A host of questions pertaining to Jammu and Kashmir have been listed in the Parliament’s Monsoon session beginning July 18 with MPs raising issues pertaining to Kashmiri Pandit migrants, their rehabilitation, targeted killings and overall situation in the Union Territory especially in the Valley.
The session starting July 18 will conclude on August 12.
First week of the session will be busiest for the Union Ministry of Home Affairs as most of the questions pertaining to Jammu and Kashmir have been listed in initial part, sources told the Excelsior.
Almost 20 percent of the total questions, raised by the Members of Parliament in first week of the Parliament session, are on the issues of Jammu and Kashmir, they said.
Selected killings including those of Kashmiri Pandit and Jammu-based employees and others, the issues of Kashmiri Pandits including their rehabilitation and overall situation in Jammu and Kashmir with specific reference to militancy-related incidents in the Valley, are among the questions pertaining to the Union Territory put up by the MPs in both Houses of Parliament.
“The Union Ministry of Home Affairs is ready with all replies pertaining to Jammu and Kashmir including terror attacks, welfare measures for Kashmiri Pandits, land acquired by outsiders in the Union Territory post abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution and level of militancy including increase or decrease in the killings of civilians, security personnel and militants,” sources said.
According to the data shared by the Jammu and Kashmir Police last month, a total of 118 militants have been killed in Kashmir this year so far, and 32 of them were foreigners. However, the number has since gone up as security forces continued anti-militancy operations even during ongoing annual pilgrimage of Shri Amarnath Ji shrine when majority of paramilitary forces and police personnel besides the Army are busy in providing security to the pilgrims.
This year several successful operations have been carried out by Army, Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and Jammu and Kashmir Police in the Kashmir valley leading to killing of militants including top commanders of Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT), The Resistance Front (TRF) etc.
Annual pilgrimage of Shri Amarnath Ji has been progressing smoothly in South Kashmir Himalayas barring cloudburst tragedy in which 15 pilgrims were killed.
Sources said senior officials of the Union Home Ministry are in regular touch with Jammu and Kashmir administration for highlighting peaceful situation in the Union Territory including the Valley in the Parliament besides killing of top militants, no stone pelting incidents and smooth pilgrimage of Shri Amarnath Ji shrine.
Jammu and Kashmir issues, as per the sources, are always raised prominently by the Members of Parliament in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. There are three National Conference MPs in Lok Sabha including Dr Farooq Abdullah, Mohammad Akbar Lone and Hasnain Masoodi. BJP too has two representatives from Jammu including Union Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) Dr Jitendra Singh and Jugal Kishore Sharma.
As per the sources, the MHA has also prepared a reply on the reservation of Agniveers in the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF).
Another topic that will dominate the Question Hour for the Ministry would be natural calamities, sources said.
The Home Ministry is also likely to take up questions on the Left Wing Extremism (LWE), Centre-State relations, cybercrime, UAPA cases and smuggling of drugs.