The Centre on Sunday offered to the Jammu & Kashmir Government more paramilitary forces to deal with the violence there. The decision was taken here at the high-level review meeting chaired by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh with top brass of security and Intelligence agencies in the wake of protests over the killing of terrorist Burhan Wani. Singh also spoke to Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, assuring her all possible help from the Centre.
At the meeting, the Home Minister directed officials to ensure that paramilitary forces in Kashmir provide all assistance to the State Government for restoration of peace and normalcy in the Valley as early as possible. Home Ministry officials said Amarnath pilgrims stuck in Srinagar have been escorted out and taken for the yatra. Those who were stuck in higher areas were escorted back, he said.
The Home Minister said all steps should be taken for ensuring safety of Amarnath pilgrims as also that of Kashmiri Pandits. Houses of some Kashmiri Pandits were attacked in some parts of the Valley, officials said. Singh said security forces should be deployed in sensitive places and additional paramilitary personnel sent to the State, if required.
Union Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi said the situation in the Valley is under control. The meeting was attended by Mehrishi, officials of the Home Ministry, paramilitary forces and Intelligence agencies.
Meanwhile talking to the media, Information and Broadcasting Minister Venkaiah Naidu came down heavily on the people who support and sympathize with protestors in the Valley and said the Government will not tolerate violence. Kashmir is an integral part of India and there is no discussion and negotiation on it, Naidu said.
“We are really surprised that some people are trying to support the so-called protestors who are sympathizing with the terrorist. He was a Hizbul Mujahideen commander, how can any Indian have sympathy for such peopleIJ” he said.
Naidu said the crisis in Kashmir was “not a sudden development” adding the “Kashmir issue has been there for long. We also have to find a long-term solution and terrorism and violence is not acceptable in whatever form and by whoever carries it out.
“As far as the Government is concerned, we are very clear that the Government will not tolerate any such activities. But you can’t have an overnight or readymade solution to such a long-standing issue. The Government is trying to deal with that,” he said.
Hoping that normalcy would be brought back at the earliest, Naidu said, “There is an elected Government in the State. The Central Government is extending all the support to the State Government. The Centre and State will together tackle the situation. I am confident that the situation will be brought to normalcy at the earliest.”
“Prime Minister Narendra Modi is focusing on the development of Jammu & Kashmir. He has visited Jammu & Kashmir a number of times in two years. The Centre also announced a big package for the State,” he said.
Minister of State in the PMO Jitendra Singh also hoped that situation would be normal soon and said people should trust the Government. “All of us should trust the Government of India. Home Minister is keeping a close eye on the sequence of events and there is absolute coordination between the State Government, the Government of India and the security agencies. And I am sure that situation is going to come back to normal very soon,” Singh said.
“Having said that, I will also like to reassure members of the minority Kashmiri Pandit community that they are safe. There were some incidents of stone pelting on the first day, but now all minorities are absolutely safe, well-protected. It is the collective responsibility of the Government as well as the society to ensure their safety and protection,” he added.
“This is also the tourist season. let the security agencies take a final call. We must trust their wisdom and discussion. We are proud of our security agencies and our forces,” he said.
Meanwhile BJP leader Ram Madhav termed as “unfortunate and saddening” the loss of lives in clashes in Kashmir over the killing of the militant commander. The party’s general secretary, who is the BJP’s point man on the State, also said the police too suffered heavily, and restraint and calm should be the motto of the people and the police.