Hate mongers won’t succeed in Kashmir: PM in Mann Ki Baat
After deploying 10,000 additional jawans in the Kashmir Valley, which was reportedly in response to intelligence inputs about terror threat from across the border, the Centre is expected to firm up a strategy for some decisive political and muscular action in the troubled-torn State of Jammu & Kashmir.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said those trying to spread hate and obstruct development works in Kashmir will never succeed, asserting that the power of development is stronger than the might of bullets and bombs.
While the PM did not talk about the massive deployment of additional forces in the Valley, sources said intelligence inputs suggested that Pakistan Army-backed terrorist groups are planning to carry out a major terror attack on Indian soil at a time when Amarnath Yatra is on.
“That is why 100 companies of paramilitary forces have been deployed in the Kashmir Valley,” said a top official.
Coming as it did after the visit of NSA Ajit Doval, who held extensive talks with top officials of the counter security grid, there were speculation of massive crackdown against terrorists and their sympathisers in the Valley and a possible scrapping of Article 35A by the Centre. Former J&K Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti went on to say that the Centre is trying to create fear psychosis in the State.
On Saturday, Minister of Home Affairs of India (MHA) Amit Shah ordered the deployment of 10,000 paramilitary personnel, ostensibly, for ‘counter-insurgency’ and for maintaining ‘law and order’ in the Valley.
Meanwhile Modi is expected to attend a meeting of BJP’s Jammu & Kashmir core group called on Tuesday, with top party leaders, including its chief and the Home Minister. According to senior BJP leaders, the high-level meeting is set to discuss political atmosphere and the party’s preparedness for Assembly elections whenever they are held. The likely presence of Modi and Shah in the meeting is significant and hints at the party gearing up for the State Assembly elections, whose schedule will be finalised by the Election Commission after it receives a go-ahead from the Central and State Governments on law and order situation.
Union Minister Jitendra Singh, BJP general secretary Ram Madhav and its State unit president Ravinder Raina and other senior leaders from the State will attend the meeting besides the party’s national working president JP Nadda.
In his monthly ‘Mann ki Baat’ broadcast, he said the “back to village” programme held in June in Jammu & Kashmir saw enthusiastic participation of villagers everywhere, including in very sensitive and remote villages, as Government officials reached there to discuss development schemes with locals.
“It shows how keen people of Kashmir are to join mainstream of development... Such programmes and people’s participation in them show that people of Kashmir want good governance. This also proves the dictum that the power of development is stronger than the might of bullets and bombs,” he said.
“It is clear that those who wish to spread hatred en route to development, pose hurdles will never succeed in their sinister plans,” he added. Prime Minister said that this is the first time senior officials reached the doorsteps of villagers across 4,500 panchayats.
These officials also reached villages on border which live under the shadow of cross-border firing, he said, adding that they also visited sensitive villages in the districts of Shopian, Pulwama, Kulgam and Anantnag districts which have seen heightened militant activity of late, without any fear.
Modi also noted that over 3 lakh pilgrims completed the Amarnath Yatra since July 1 and said it has already outnumbered the number of devotees during 60 days in 2015. Hailing the hospitality of the people of the State, he said it will boost tourism.