As India-China stand-off continues at Doklam, Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Saturday accused Beijing of meddling in Kashmir and blamed external forces for fomenting trouble in the State. She expressed happiness that all political parties were united against the terror attack on Amarnath yatris as it was a conspiracy to whip up communal tension in the whole country.
Mehbooba had earlier blamed Pakistan for the unrest in the State, but this is for the first time she pointed a finger at China.
Emerging from an hour-long meeting with Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh with whom she discussed the security situation in the State following the terrorist attack on Amarnath pilgrims on July 10, she told reporters, “Ye jo ladaai ho rahi hai jisme bahar ki taaqatein shaamil hain, ab to beech mein China ne bhi isme haath daalna shuru kia hai (disturbances in Kashmir are provoked by foreign forces (Pakistan) and now even China has also started meddling in it).”
Her remarks came against the backdrop of a spurt in the attacks by terrorists in J&K and the statement by the Chinese Foreign Office spokesperson on Wednesday that it was ready to play a “constructive role” in improving India-Pakistan ties over Kashmir, where the “situation has attracted the attention of the international community”. India reacted strongly on Thursday ruling out any third party mediation on Kashmir.
“We are not fighting for law and order situation in Kashmir. Until the whole nation and all political parties are united, we cannot win this fight. The way communal harmony was maintained in the whole country. The enemy wanted to cause communal riots in the whole country by this (Amarnath) attack.
“I am thankful to the people of my country and the Home Minister that in this difficult situation they supported us, and in this situation, which involves external forces... I am happy that all our political parties are together,” she said.
Meanwhile, the Government, for the second consecutive day, briefed political parties on the J&K situation and stand-off with China. Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj, Defence and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and the Foreign and Home Secretaries represented the Government. leaders from Siromani Akali Dal, Rashtriya lok Samata Party, Indian National lok Dal, Janata Dal (Secular), Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, Communist Party of India, Sikkim Democratic Front, National People’s Party, Revolutionary Socialist Party, Bodoland People’s Front and Republican Party of India attended the meet and unequivocally condemned the terror attack on Amarnath pilgrims.
As things stand, militants have stepped up attacks in recent months on Government forces in Jammu & Kashmir as counter-insurgency operations intensified. She apprised the Home Minister about the steps taken to maintain peace in the Kashmir Valley. “Ensuring security of Amarnath Yatra obviously topped the agenda of the meeting,” said an aide to the Home Minister.
Following Mehbooba’s remarks, former J&K Chief Minister Omar Abadullah tweeted asking: “Pakistan meddles & now the CM confirms that China is also meddling yet our response to China’s meddling is a lot more muted. Why is thatIJ”
So far, 1.86 lakh pilgrims have visited the high altitude Himalayan shrine. The Home Ministry in consultation with the State Government has decided to erect 21 more security pickets on the Amarnath route to check whether any vehicle carrying pilgrims is moving beyond the deadline of 7pm in the Valley. The ill-fated bus that came under attack in the state’s Anantnag district had violated the deadline.
The Opposition has slammed the Government for failing to ensure security of Amarnath Yatris.
As many as 21,000 paramilitary personnel in addition to State police forces and two battalions of Army have been deployed for security of the pilgrimage routes. The number of paramilitary personnel deployed this year is 9,500 more than last year.
Four districts of the State -- Pulwama, Kulgam, Shopian and Anantnag -- have been on the boil since the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani in an encounter with security forces on July 8, 2016.