Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 24: The former Union Minister of State for Defence, Prof Chaman Lal Gupta has observed that to seek a chance for peace through ceasefire in troubled Kashmir cannot be possible unilaterally and the experiences of past should also be kept in view while pondering over any new exercise.
In a statement, Prof Gupta said that what is happening these days in certain parts of the Valley, is not a new phenomenon though with much hyped psychological modern media propaganda. He recalled that in 2000-01, in wake of the demand and suggestions from certain quarters, including the then Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah, a unilateral ceasefire was announced commencing from November 28th, 2000, which continued upto February 13th, 2001. But in these 78 days, the ultras stepped up their activities and the violations of ceasefire along LoC and the Jammu borders were also increased.
Quoting State Government figures, he said that in those 78 days of ceasefire, militants gunned down 242 civilians and injured 401, whereas during earlier 78 days of this peace move, the number of killings by militants was 154 and 214 were injured by the terrorists. The forces in their actions in earlier 78 days had eliminated 435 militants, but this number had gone down to just about a 100, because of no operation by the forces, he added and further reminded that the civilians killed during ceasefire also included 17 political activists, 15 from NC.
“Feeling the heat of this unilateral ceasefire, the NC leaders had cried for resuming the actions saying that ‘Latoon Kay Bhoot Batoon Se Nahin Mante’ and after this a vigorous campaign was launched against the terrorists as also effective retaliatory measure along LoC/Border,” the former Union Minister recalled.
Prof. Gupta said it is a sad commentary that certain politicians being out of power are fueling the situation in Kashmir, although they themselves were opting for use of force for firm handling of the menace of terror. “It is strange that they speak in different tones and voices at different places and this sort of opportunism is also the cause of chaos and uncertainty,” he said and added that these politicians should themselves realize the dangers inherent in the medieval culture posing threats to the peace in Kashmir as also elsewhere in the globe.
Follow our WhatsApp channel