Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, May 2: Deputy Chief Minister and BJP leader Dr Nirmal Singh said today that Kashmir separatists have become irrelevant in the present scenario and were trying to communalize the situation in Jammu and Kashmir by unnecessary raking up the issue of Amarnath yatra to stay alive and keep their shops running.
“Whether it is hardliner Hurriyat Conference leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani or other separatists, they have been rendered irrelevant in present situation. They are just trying to stay alive by raking up the issues unnecessarily to communalize situation in Jammu and Kashmir,” Dr Singh said in an informal chat with newspersons this afternoon.
He added that having lost his significance, Geelani was issuing statements to seek media attention. Such statements shouldn’t be taken seriously, he said and declared that holy annual pilgrimage to cave shrine of Shri Amarnath Ji in South Kashmir Himalayas will start as scheduled on July 2 and culminate on August 29 with all facilities including security provided to the pilgrims.
Hitting out at separatists, Singh said they have lost their ground in the Valley and were now trying to seek attention of the people with such statements.
“The separatists are finding themselves to be irrelevant in the present situation, which has compelled them to raise the issues to attract public and media attention. People do not follow the separatists and there were only a few hundred people at the rally of Syed Ali Shah Geelani at Tral yesterday.
“They have become irrelevant and they are doing this to seek the attention of general masses. They are trying to vitiate the atmosphere of J&K but they would neither succeed in it nor we will allow them to succeed,” the veteran BJP leader said.
“They have been trying to vitiate the atmosphere since 1947. They are the people who have lost their ground. People of Jammu and Kashmir have rejected them as they have given power to PDP and BJP Government. People want development– they want rehabilitation of flood victims,” Dr Nirmal Singh said.
He held separatists responsible for “instigating” youths in the Valley in 2010 agitation which led to the death of more than 100 people.
Asked whether Government was considering action against Geelani after Pakistani flags were waved at his rally yesterday, the Deputy Chief Minster said, “Law will take its own course”.
“Government is working and police is also working on it. Whosoever is the culprit and indulge in such activities, action would be taken against them,” he said.
Dr Singh said that in the coming days nobody would dare to indulge in any anti-national activities in the State.
Denying that the Government was soft towards separatists and anti-national elements, he said: “no body would dare to indulge in anti-national activities in the State in future as the State would take stringent action against them”.
The Government, he said, will move forward as per the `Agenda of the Alliance’ formulated by PDP and BJP before formation of coalition Government in the State.
He said that the Government has never been soft towards anti-national forces, which was evident from the fact that separatist Masrat Alam was booked treason after he raised pro-Pakistani slogans and waved Pakistani flags and he is now behind bars under the Public Safety Act (PSA).
Singh said that the common people of Jammu and Kashmir especially Kashmir are anxiously waiting for Amarnath Yatra to commence as it helps a large section of people including shopkeepers, pithoos, ponneywallahs etc.
“Amarnath yatra is managed by Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) and it follows all the traditions under the Hindu mythology. Yatra will go as per schedule. All the facilities including security and safety will be provided to the pilgrims. Jammu and Kashmir Government will give all cooperation to the Shrine Board,” Singh said.
After the Assembly election, Dr Nirmal Singh said, people of the State want to move ahead with a new thinking.
“There are some elements who by making controversial statements seek media attention and also Pakistan which cannot control its own internal affairs and is poking its nose in our affairs. This would not have any effect here,” he added.
“Since this Government has come to power, people from different faiths have come closer and these people are trying to create communal disharmony by making such statements,” he said.
He said that the Government has been inviting people to visit Kashmir.
“We are inviting people from Bollywood to come and make movies in Jammu, Ladakh and Kashmir. Such statements do not have any impact in Jammu and Kashmir. Jammu and Kashmir is peaceful and we want to tell this to rest of the country,” the Deputy Chief Minister said.
On the issue of granting amnesty to youths in Jammu, who were booked during Amarnath land row agitation in 2008, he said, “The agreement which was made has everything in it. There is no such instance in my knowledge. There are several cases against me as well. I do not think that there are any serious charges against anybody relating to Amarnath agitation. If any such case comes to my knowledge, we would see what can be done.”
Meanwhile, Dr Nirmal Singh said the State Government will work towards providing sustained livelihood to refugees from West Pakistan but hinted it would not give them citizenship rights saying the issue does not have any mention in the agenda of alliance.
“In our agenda of alliance we have discussed about their livelihood because they have been living here for the past 67 years. It is the duty of the State Government so as to make arrangements for their bread and butter. We will find it out how it will be done taking in view the laws of the State,” he said.
When asked whether the State Government would grant permanent citizenship to the refugees from West Pakistan, a demand that was raised by his party prior to the formation of the coalition Government in the State, he said “we do not have any mention of it in the agenda of alliance, but only their livelihood… We will do what is mentioned in the alliance agenda”.
Asserting that problem of the refugees was a long standing problem since 1947,which have been ignored by successive previous Governments , Dr Singh announced that a high level committee would soon be formed to address the grievances of the refugees. “We want that a package must be given to them which has been denied since 1947.”
He said that people from various places got displaced and came to Jammu.
“In the agenda of alliance, we have mentioned that a package would be given to them. We have talked about their livelihood. In the Assembly, the Chief Minister had made a statement that a committee would be formed which would be headed by the Deputy Chief Minister and some Ministers should also be members of the committee,” Dr Nirmal Singh said, adding the Committee would be announced after the opening of Darbar Move offices in Srinagar on May 5.
“We have been listening to their problems and demands. It is a very complex issue. There are several types of refugees like of 1947, some are from PoK, some are from West Pakistan, some are from 1965, 1971, some are camp refugees and some are non-camp refugees. Some are registered while some are not registered so it’s a very complex issue,” he said, adding that the Committee would look into the issues of all refugees and work out proper solution to their demands and problems.
The Deputy Chief Minister said the refugees want a package which would compensate them of the property which they have left behind.
“Some recommendations have been made by the Parliamentary Committee and the Wadhwa Committee. We will see everything and give a report to the Government and to the Centre so that a package is given to them,” he added.
Meanwhile, Dr Nirmal Singh today also convened a meeting of all frontal organizations of the people displaced from Pakistan occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) to take stock of their long pending demands and discuss ways and means for redressal of their grievances.
The meeting was attended by the BJP legislators including Sham Choudhary, Sat Sharma CA, Dr D K Manyal, Rajeev Sharma, Dr Gagan Bhagat, Kuldeep Kumar, MLC S Charanjeet Singh Khalsa and heads of various organizations of PoJK displaced persons including Dr Narinder Singh, Captain Yudhvir Singh, Rashpal Singh, Suchwant Singh, Jagjeet Singh, Capt S R Nagial, Ashok Kumar Khajuria, Vijay Sharma, Bharat Sharma, Vikas Sharma, Yog Raj Gupta and Ronik Sharma.
Various issues were raised by the organizations like PoJK DP’s Front, Movement for Justice for Refugee of 1947, PoJK Refugee Sangarsh Samiti, Movement for Justice to Refugees, PoJK Sharnarthi Action Committee, Displaced Persons of 1965 from Chhamb, State BJP Sharanarthi Cell, PoJK Displaced Persons Front of 1947, 1965, 71 and camp and non camp DPs.
The representatives demanded constitution of a permanent body to look into the issues of the DPs including immediate release of a relief package to the tune of Rs 30 lakh for each DP family unit, extension of the benefits that are being given to the Kashmir migrants, reservation in professional and technical institutions for the children of DPs, establishment of Development Board, provision of PRCs, ration cards and enrollment in voter lists for the DPs residing outside J&K.
Dr Nirmal Singh expressed sympathies with the DPs and refugees. He said that it was very unfortunate that almost three generations of these people have passed away but nothing concrete has been done for the community so far.
He gave patient hearing to the DPs and assured that the Government was committed to address all their outstanding issues on priority.
Follow our WhatsApp channel