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Kashmir : Storm over Shivraj Patil’s statement on Valley violence |
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Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil’s statement in Srinagar that Pakistan should not be blamed for every wrong thing, increase in infiltration and spurt in violence in the Kashmir Valley, has been criticised by the BJP as playing into Islamabad’s hands. Faced with the criticism, the Union Home Ministry on July 4 described as “distorted” media reports which quoted the Home Minister. A Home Ministry press release said, “The Home Minister has been wrongly quoted in the reports. The highly distorted reports have created a totally avoidable confusion and controversy.” Answering a question during his visit to the valley, Shivraj Patil had said, “We do not always blame Pakistan for what is happening here.” The credit for the improved situation should be given to the people of the State.
Asked whether Pakistan should not be blamed for increase in infiltration, the Home Minister had responded, “Yeah, we are not in the game of blaming each other. We are in the game of understanding each other.”
After listening to various security agencies and the State Government, Home Minister Shivraj Patil said in Srinagar last week that the situation in the State had markedly improved. The State Government said, infiltration is almost the same as last year, but the number of incidents is lower this year. Apart from the State police, almost all the security agencies informed the Home Minister that the situation was serious. They talked about infiltration, rise in the incidents and , new technologies and modus operandi the insurgents were using.
Asked about likely troop cut given the improvement in the situation, the Home Minister said, “whatever is required in this regard will be done as the objective is the restoration of peace and normalcy.”
Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad wanted the transfer of the 390 megawatt Dulhasti power project to the State as compensation for the losses it suffered due to the Indus Waters Treaty between India and Pakistan.
Azad pledges support to Pratibha Patil
Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad has pledged full support of the ruling coalition in Jammu and Kashmir to the UPA-Left nominee Pratibha Patil in the Presidential election. Pratibha Patil met MLAs of the ruling coalition in Srinagar on July 7.
Hurriyat strike hits normal life
Normal life was affected in the Kashmir valley on July 6 in response to a general strike call given by the Hurriyat Conference in protest against alleged human rights violations and fake killings by the security forces. There were pitched battles between agitating demonstrators and the police after the Friday prayers in Sringar’s interior areas around Jamia Masjid. The police resorted to cane charge and lobbed teargas shells to disperse demonstrators.
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