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| Union Home Minister drops enough hints to replace pellet guns in Kashmir | | Says an All Party Delegation would visit valley soon | |
Jehangir Rashid
Early Times Report
SRINAGAR, Aug 25: Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh today dropped enough hints that pellet guns are on way out in Kashmir and they are all set to be replaced by some other non-lethal weapons. He also said that an All Party Delegation would visit the valley soon and see the ground situation.
Addressing a joint press conference here with chief minister, Mehbooba Mufti, the Home Minister said that the expert committee set up to study the consequences of pellet guns would submit its report within the next few days. He said that time has come when the pellet guns need to be replaced since concerns have been raised over the use of the same.
"We had formed an expert committee on pellet guns and the committee would submit the report in the next three to four days. Time has come when we have to provide an alternative to pellet guns since demand for the same has been raised at different forums. We are serious in this issue and we will provide an alternative in this regard," said Rajnath.
The Union Home Minister said that in 2010 the pellet guns were used an option to quell street protests as they were considered as non-lethal weapons. He said that the situation is no longer such with people demanding that pellet guns need to be replaced by some other non-lethal weapons.
Rajnath said that an All Party Delegation would visit Kashmir soon so as to assess the ground situation. He said the state government would be asked to make the ground situation suitable for the visit of such delegation. He added that Government of India is committed to carry out with dialogue with cross section of people within the ambit of Constitution of India.
"To restore peace and normalcy everyone should contribute, I appeal people to identify the elements provoking youth to resort to violence. After all children are children they need proper counseling. It is not only the youth who die but security forces personnel also die during such a situation. It is not only that Kashmir feels pain but entire India feels the same," said the HM.
Rajnath said that the future of India is incomplete without shaping up the future of Kashmir. On the implementation of Agenda of Alliance carved out between PDP and BJP, he said that both the alliance partners are committed towards it. He said that his ministry would appoint a nodal officer to look into the problems faced by the people of Kashmir in any part of the country.
"I had mentioned during my Lucknow lecture, that Kashmiri youth should be given safety and respect, wherever they will be they should be treated like brothers. For any problem we will appoint a nodal officer whom the students or other people can contact," said the Home Minister. He asked the people to identify 'elements' igniting violence.
Speaking on this occasion chief minister Mehbooba Mufti said that the government would act tough against the people who instigate the youth to pelt stones on police and security forces personnel. She said that these elements encourage the youth to attack police camps and other security establishments.
"Our focus should be on 95 percent people who want peaceful resolution of the problem through dialogue. Those who have been creating disturbance and inciting youth for violence will be dealt legally and they won't be allowed to make life of the people hell," said Mehbooba. She said that people should come forward and help the government in bringing back the situation to normal level.
During the two day visit the Union Home Minister met about 20 delegations of civil society, some political parties, Pahari community leaders and several individuals. A six-member delegation of All Parties Sikh Coordination Committee discussed with him the concerns of minorities in the state.
A three member delegation of Panthers Party also met Rajnath. Earlier a delegation of Coordination Committee of Janata Dal (United) also met him. Chief Minister met the Union Home Minister. The two leaders held detailed discussions on security situation and reviewed development projects. The Union Home Minister also held a meeting with the Governor N N Vohra and State Cabinet Ministers led by Deputy Chief Minister Dr Nirmal Kumar Singh.
Rajnath held more than 10 meetings on Wednesday with a wide spectrum of political parties and chaired a meeting of senior officers of security agencies and state government to review the security situation in the Kashmir Valley. Delegations of all major political parties including the state's ruling PDP and BJP, main opposition National Conference, besides Congress, CPI(M), regional People's Conference, People's Democratic Front and Democratic Party Nationalist held talks with him. The Union Home Minister met about 400 persons in 30 delegations and received their inputs on the Jammu & Kashmir situation. |
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