|
Kashmir : All set for Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus service |
 |
Things are moving smoothly on both sides of the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir for the start of the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus service on April 7. But the plan of top leaders of mainstream political parties to travel on the inaugural journey has come to naught with Pakistan rejecting India’s request to allow these leaders to travel. The External Affairs Ministry conveyed Pakistan’s decision to the Regional Passport Officer in Srinagar, who is the issuing authority for travel permits from India. Top politicians wanting to travel in the inaugural trip included National Conference President Omar Abdullah, People’s Democratic Party President Mehbooba Mufti and Dy. Chief Minister Mangat Ram Sharma.
The Pakistan Government did not provide any reason for denial of permission. Other leaders who had put in requests to travel by the inaugural bus included National Conference leader, Abdul Rahim Rather, Pradesh Congress Committee Chief Peerzada Mohammed Sayeed and Panthers Party Chief Bhim Singh.
Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil has directed the deployment of additional forces for incident-free journey of the historic Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus service. His direction comes in the wake of renewed threats given by terrorist groups. Shivraj Patil gave the direction at a meeting of the Chiefs of Security Forces when they called on him in New Delhi to review the security arrangements for the bus service.
It may be recalled that four militant groups, Al Nasireen, Save Kashmir Movement, Farzand-e-Millat and Ul Arifeen had last week leaked out names and addresses of passengers on the first bus scheduled for April 7. They had warned passengers not to travel on the bus as they would be turning it into a ‘coffin.’ The Government is probing the leaking out of the passenger list. Sources say that the possibility of the passenger list leaking from the Pakistani side cannot be ruled out.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on a visit to Mauritius, remarked that Pakistan is equally responsible for ensuring the safety of the passengers traveling on the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus service.
A strategic victory, says Governor
State Governor Lt. General S.K. Sinha has described the decision to open the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad road as a strategic victory. Speaking to reporters in Srinagar, he said “what we could not achieve militarily in 1947 has been achieved politically and in a friendly manner.” Earlier, he inaugurated a photo exhibition showcasing the Army’s rescue and relief operations, especially during snowfall and landslides. Sinha, who was an Army officer in 1947, recalled the trek to the road and back. “We were for opening of this road in 1947. Unfortunately, it was a political decision by the then Prime Minister that stopped us from moving beyond Uri. At that time, Indian troops were headed by an English officer, and I was a junior officer in the Army. ;That day we marched upto Uri and were heading towards Muzaffarabad. Instead, we were stopped and directed by the then Prime Minister to rescue Poonch first and not move beyond that point.”
Chief Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed has expressed confidence that the Srinagar-Muzaffrabad bus service will further step up the process of normalisation in Jammu and Kashmir. He did not agree that opening of this road is fraught with security problems. He said that the antecedents of everybody traveling on the road would be screened and he does not believe that the route would be misused.
In an interview over Doordarshan, the Chief Minister called for engaging separatists in the on-going dialogue process between the State and the Centre. He said that economic self-reliance holds the prime importance in Jammu and Kashmir at present. But at the same time, he is not averse to the idea of the state getting more political autonomy.
|
