Early Times Report
Jammu, Aug 19: National Panther Party (NPP) Chairman and MLA Harsh Dev Singh lambasted the separatists and other groups raising hue and cry over the role and relevance of VDCs and seeking their disbanding. In a statement issued, Harsh Dev Singh hailed VDCs for the highly commendable role played by them in countering the insurgency operations since their constitution, he said they have contributed significantly in ensuring an environment of safety and security particularly in hilly and remote areas of the state.
He said that the VDCs were constituted with the objective of not only providing self protection in the remote and militancy prone areas but also to fight militants till the security forces could reach to neutralize the attackers.
He said that return of near normalcy and peace in the state particularly the far flung and remote areas is primarily due to highly accredited role played by the VDCs and SPOs who are still discharging their duties at the risk of their own lives.
Rapping the separatists and other political groups for spreading canards and half truths about the VDCs and their functioning, he said that any attempt to disband the VDCs was fraught with dangerous consequences. He said that dissolution of VDCs could fritter away the gains of last 20 years and could further result in revival of militancy activities in the state. He said that the state was already experiencing cross border terrorism and there were reports of infiltration also at the time of border tensions. Harsh Dev Singh further lambasted the government for secretively reducing the VDCs which has already started in the state. He claimed that during the last three years more than 1000 volunteers of VDCs have been disbanded in Udhampur, Doda, Kathua, Rajouri etc. which was highly reprehensible. Seeking the re-deployment of VDCs in such areas, he said that the failure of the government to do so could result in aggravated tensions. Cautioning the state govt. of undermining the role of VDCs, Harsh Dev Singh said around 28,865 volunteers of VDCs were discharging their duties in various parts of the state for security operations. |
