Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Oct 9: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today came down heavily on Pakistan saying it will never improve itself just like a leopard never changes its spots and described United Nations Military Observers Group (UNMOG) as toothless body saying they have done nothing to check terrorism by Pakistan during last 25 years.
“Pakistan will never improve itself. Like a leopard never changes its spots, Pakistan too would continue to behave like this,” Omar told reporters after tour of several border areas and relief camps set up for the border migrants including Hiranagar, Samba, Ramgarh and Bishnah.
He said it was a matter of grave concern that Pakistan was deliberately and directly targeting the civilians and we had to evacuate them to safer places.
“Pakistan continued to target civilians by pounding forward areas along the International Border. We have to shift the civilians to safer areas to save them from the firing,” he said.
To a question on Pakistan taking the issue of firing to UNMOG, Omar described it as `toothless body’ saying it has done nothing to stop 25 years of terrorist activities fanned by Pakistan in Jammu and Kashmir, Kargil war and numerous ceasefire violations by Pakistan.
“While Pakistan has been directly targeting civilians, our security forces are ensuring that there was minimum damage to civilians on Pakistan side in retaliatory firing. We have enough evidence that civilians were being directly targeted by Pakistan on Indian side. Large number of civilian casualties on this side is enough evidence,” Omar said.
He added that if Pakistan wants good relations with India and shelling and firing to end, it should immediately stop shelling Indian positions. “If Pakistan stops shelling, our forces will automatically reciprocate. Then, there will be no shelling on the borders”.
The Chief Minister, however, said that all channels of communication with Pakistan shouldn’t be closed.
Asserting that it was the Government of India’s decision on how to respond to Pakistan shelling and firing, Omar said the flag meetings will be held once the shelling stops on the borders.
Omar said the Government will provide reservation to the people living along the International Border (IB) in State services and Government institutions at par with the Line of Control (LoC).
“It will be on the lines of the reservation which is already applicable for the people living along the LoC,” he announced during his visit to border areas and relief camps and inter-acting with the migrants of the IB.
“These days, the International Border sees as many cases of ceasefire violations by Pakistan as Line of Control (LoC) areas do. Their children suffer due to shelling and fail to compete with others resulting in failure to get jobs,” he said.
“Thus, along the pattern of the reservation for the residents near the LoC, we will provide reservation for people living in all areas adjoining the International Border,” he said.
Special reservations will be given to them in all state-run institutions, with a special emphasis on the police force, he said.
“We have also decided to establish camps for animals also with facilities of fodder, water and veterinary doctors,” he added.
He announced that Director General of Police (DGP) K Rajendra will also hold special recruitment drive in the border areas once the shelling stops.
With border migrants demanding for plots at safer places, Omar said that their demand of allotment of plots would be taken up at the “right” forums.
The demand allotment of plots put forth by the shelling affected people would be taken up at the right forums appropriately, Omar said.
Omar today flew to Jammu from Srinagar to meet the shelling affected families staying in camps established for them by the State Government and took stock of the facilities being provided to them.
The Chief Minister held meetings with divisional and district officers at Jammu, Samba and Hiranagar to receive the brief on the situation that has arisen due to shelling from across the borders in various sectors in Jammu division.
Omar met shelling affected families in camps here and assured that the State Government will do its best to safeguard the lives of the people, while directing authorities to identify more temporary shelters for displaced people.
The Chief Minister asked the divisional officers to identify more places of temporary shelters for the population migrating from border areas for safety.
Omar said the State Government will do whatever is possible to safeguard the lives of the people as also their cattle.
He said instructions have already been given to the divisional authorities to take all measures for providing necessary succour to the affected people.
The Chief Minister said he has also given directions for establishing temporary camps for cattle as also arranging fodder and medical facilities for them.
Omar said Police department has been asked to take measures for the safety of property of the migrants they have left back.
He said other demands of reservation and allotment of plots presented by the affected people would be taken up at right forums appropriately.
The Chief Minister ascertained the status of delivery of services by the State Government to the affected families for providing free food, shelter, drinking water, medical facilities, bedding and other related facilities at the relief camps.
He interacted with the inmates of the camps and asked about the quality and nature of services being provided to them.
The Chief Minister while expressing solidarity with them at this hour of crisis expressed deep grief for loss of innocent human lives in the shelling from across the border.
He also prayed for early recovery of injured. The inmates of the camps brought to his notice various issues confronting them which included safety of cattle and property they have left back.
Omar said funds will be no restrain in this regard.
The Chief Minister visited camps at Koota, Nanath, Chichi Mata Ji, Devli, Salad, Koota. Hiranagar, Samba and Bishnah and inter-acted with the people, who have migrated from the border villages.
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