Early Times Report
Srinagar, May 23: The army has put a rider on vacating land which it uses as firing range in the state. It has asked the government to provide it alternate land for setting up the firing ranges.
Union Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar told Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed that firing ranges are imperative for the training of the army personnel, and “this issue shouldn’t be allowed to be politicized,” said an official, wishing not to be named.
Parrikar, who is considered one of the finest administrators in the Modi government, said this in the context of the controversy over Tosa Maidan firing range in central Kashmir. The so-called ‘civil rights’ group, covertly supported by separatists, launched a campaign last year to get this firing range cleared by the army. Parrikar had reportedly told the CM that tagging every thing connected with the army as anti-Kashmir in the Valley should be stopped and the mainstream politically parties should take a lead in it, especially the PDP, which has emerged as a single largest party in there.
“Parrikar told Mufti Sayeed that army is stationed for security and to check terrorists activities. It’s doesn’t intend to infringe on the rights of the common people and is making every effort to reduce chances of ordinary citizens being killed during anti-terrorists operations. But, it has its own requirements, which need to be addressed by the civil administration,” said the official.
Mufti had made an appeal to the Defence Minister to allocate land for expansion of the projects in the state, in both the Jammu and Kashmir region. The CM also reportedly asked the latter to cut down the number of soldiers in the civilian areas of the Valley.
According to the sources, the Defence Minister has said that these issues are important and can be discussed but the state government first must show considerate view to the requirements of the army. |
