Fayaz Bukhari
SRINAGAR, Oct 17: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today said guns were no solution to any issue and Pakistan, by resorting to unprovoked firing, was either trying to sneak in more infiltrators or making a fresh bid to internationalise the Kashmir issue.
Reacting to the unprovoked firing by Pakistani Army that resulted in killing of three civilians in Uri sector of North Kashmir near the LoC yesterday, Omar said Islamabad should respect the ceasefire.
“…We also have guns and mortars. If we also start firing, where will this stop?” Omar told reporters on the sidelines of a function at Kashmir University here.
The Chief Minister said the intentions of people across the Line of Control do not seem to be good. “When the ceasefire was going good, what is the need for violating it? Is it an attempt to increase infiltration or is it part of attempts to internationalise the Kashmir issue as was done recently?” he asked.
He said only innocent people suffer due to the violation of ceasefire. “Three innocent persons were targeted without any reason,” he said.
Pakistani troops had yesterday resorted to unprovoked firing and shelling in Uri sector near the LoC in Baramulla district of Kashmir. Three persons including two teenagers were killed in the incident.
Asked about his statement that curbing corruption in coalition system was ‘impossible,’ Omar said it was not a political statement but based on his observations and experiences over the past decade.
“It was not a political talk… These were my observations out of my experience having worked in the NDA Government and as an MP for 11 years,” he said.
The provisions of the 73rd amendment of the Constitution, empowering Panchayati Raj system, can be incorporated in the Jammu and Kashmir Panchayati Raj Act, Omar said.
“The 73rd amendment will not be implemented in the State but its provisions can be incorporated in the State Act,” he said.
He said if anyone has any suggestions with regard to this issue, the Government can discuss it in the cabinet and accept whatever can be done.
Giving the reasons for cancelling the Block Development Council elections, the Chief Minister said an ordinance has been sent to the Governor for providing reservations for women, scheduled castes and scheduled tribes in these bodies.
“Our problem was that there were no reservations for the Sarpanch post and it would not have been ideal to have reservations in the next level (of Panchayats). The second problem was that this issue came up after the notification for the block councils were issued,” he said.
Omar said the elections will be held within three to four months after the Governor approves the ordinance.
Meanwhile, a day after three civilians were killed by Pakistani mortars in North Kashmir’s Hajipeer sector, Pakistani troops again resorted to firing in the area since last evening soon after the burial of the dead and they are yet to respond to Army’s protests over the issue.
According to reports reaching here from Charunda village where three civilians were killed yesterday morning by Pakistani mortars, Pakistani troops restarted firing at Indian positions with small arms last evening. The firing continued throughout the night, however, since morning there is lull.
There was a brief lull in the Pakistani firing as it stopped at around 12:30 p.m. yesterday after people of Churanda village appealed Pakistani troops from the megaphones of the two Masjids to stop firing as civilian casualties had taken place in the village.
Reports said that the Pakistani troops resorted to firing again in the evening on Indian positions and it continued throughout the night. It may be mentioned here that Pakistani troops started firing at Indian positions on October 2 after Army started renovating their bunkers along the LoC in the village ahead of winter.
According to reports Army is renovating the bunkers and forward posts in the area ahead of winter that might have provoked the Pakistani troop firing. The Pakistani troops are hardly 100 meters away from the village and surround it from three sides.
The General Officer Commanding (GOC) of Baramulla based 19-Division of Army, Major General Bipin Rawat, when asked about the fresh firing in the area told Excelsior that the Pakistani troops are firing with small arms in their own side.
The General said that Pakistani troops are yet to respond to the protests that were lodged by the Army with their counterparts at Aman Setu yesterday after the killing of three civilians. It may be mentioned here that the Army has lodged protests with their Pakistani counterparts thrice since the firing started early this month in Churanda village.
The GOC said that once the Pakistani troops admit that they have committed a mistake, then only Army will seek flag meeting with them over the issue. “Pakistani response may take a few days as they have to discuss our protests with top commanders first who will assess the situation before responding”, he added.
Meanwhile, villagers of Charunda today protested in Uri town to seek immediate flag meeting between Indian army and Pakistani troops for ending the LoC firing that killed three civilians.
They demanded construction of underground bunkers so that they can take shelter in them at the time of firing. They also demanded relocation of the village and compensation for the victim families.
Deputy Commissioner Baramulla, Khawaja Ghulam Ahmad, today said that he has taken the issue of the flag meeting with the General Officer Commanding (GOC), Major General Bipin Rawat, for seeking end to LoC firing. He said that bunkers will be constructed in the village for the safety and security of the people, adding the issue will be discussed with the army first. He also said that government will give compensation to the victim families.
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