Gopal Sharma
RS PURA, Aug 28: Asserting that time was not congenial for talks with Pakistan, former Union Health Minister and senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad (MP) today said that Pakistani Government has no control on its Army and it was directly targeting the Indian civilians.
Mr Azad, who is Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha today paid visit to the border villages of Suchetgarh, R S Pura and Arnia which were targeted by Pakistani troops causing extensive damage recently. Mr Azad also paid visit to several make shift camps at RS Pura, Salehar and Rehal and took stock of situation prevailing in the Jammu border belt.
Talking to media-persons Mr Azad said in last 45 days, massive cases fire violations from Pakistani side took place along Jammu border and such high intensity shelling was never experienced earlier after 1971 war. “It is not only Pakistani Rangers, but Pakistani Army is directly involved. Use of such heavy weapons and mortar shells is clear indicative that Pakistani Army was directly involved. Without Pakistan Army’s support such heavy shelling is not possible,” Mr Azad maintained.
Referring to the killings of civilians and their cattle and the damage caused to the houses of the border villagers in shelling, Mr Azad said, “It is unfortunate that the Pakistan Army is targeting poor people and farmers of this border belt. The poor and hapless people are unable to cultivate their fields. After 1971, this is perhaps for the first time the Pak Army is using such heavy weaponery to target civilians. It is also true that Pak will not shun its old habit of mischief. So the time is not conducive for talks with that country,” Mr Azad maintained.
Responding to a yet another question, Azad said, “Pakistani leaders and its Government has no control on its Army. Its Army is fully supporting Rangers. They have their vested interests and it will never like peace along borders. Unlike in India, Pak Army has become more powerful even than its political leadership in own country. It is stronger than Prime Minister there. In India, it is not so. The Army is well under control of Defence Minister, Prime Minister and the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces. Pakistani troops are not doing good and I feel sorry the way they are targeting the innocent villagers and disrupting farming activity,” Mr Azad asserted.
When asked State Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has not visited to the Pakistani firing affected villagers so far, Mr Azad said, “I was told here that Dr Farooq Abdullah was not well and Omar was with his father in England. Now, since he has returned and he and his ministers should visit the affected areas.”
Referring to the rehabilitation of affected people, Azad said these people should be rehabilitated at the safer places. He said that he would take up the issue with the Government in Delhi and the Congress would also take up this issue in the Coordination Committee meeting with the NC leadership.
To yet another question regarding repeated ceasefire violations and foreign policy of Modi Government, the AICC leader said he do not want any politics on this issue because from Kashmir to Kanyakumari the country is one on this issue. Entire nation should be united on such matters. But earlier, these people (BJP) used to term Manmohan Singh led UPA Government as weak. They also made huge claims during rallies, but now it seems that there is no definite policy at all. There is no appropriate response from the Government and Modi Sahib has gone totally silent. He however, said that there should not be talks under such circumstances but at the same time dialogue is the only way out for resolving issues.
Earlier, after reaching from Union Capital here, Mr Azad accompanied by ex MP, Madan Lal Sharma former Ministers R S Chib and Gulchain Singh Charak straightway left for R S Pura. Former Ministers Suman Bhagat and Ch Gharu Ram also joined them. He met the border migrants at the temporary camps at Bana Singh Stadium, ITI and Higher Secondary School R S Pura. He interacted with these affected people and listened to their woes. Mr Azad then left for forward villages Abdullian, Chandu Chak, Begga, Jorha Farm where two civilians were killed, Chakoi, Sai, then Arnia, Rehal and Salehar. He also met border migrants at Salehar Higher Secondary School and Rehal temporary camps.
The villagers strongly projected the demand of providing them atleast 5 marla land at safer places and compensation for their cattle and houses damaged in shelling. Mr Azad assured the people to take up this issue with the State and the Central Governments. Mr Azad also paid visit to the Govt Medical College Hospital where he inquired about the health condition of the firing victims. In the evening he left for the Union capital.
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