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| Kishtwar effect | | Pakistan, LeT behind vicious campaign against VDCs | | Rustam
JAMMU, Aug 20: The demand for disbanding the Village Defence Committees (VDCs), which were set up in 1995 to combat cross-border terrorism and defend minority communities in the state in general and erstwhile Doda district and Udhampur, Poonch and Rajouri districts in particular, have united all the Jammu-based political parties and groups, minus the NC and the Congress, against the opponents of these counter-insurgency groups. They have extended their unflinching support to the affected people of Kishtwar and held out a commitment that they will not allow the authorities to disband the VDCs whose role has all along been splendid.
What has given a fillip to the demand that the VDCs should be maintained and further strengthened to fight terrorism is the revelation made by the affected people of Kishtwar that Pakistan and terror organizations such as Lashkar-e-Toiba of dreaded Hafiz Saeed involved in the 26/11 terror attacks in Mumbai and other deadly attacks in different parts of the country, including Delhi, are instigating anti-national forces in the state to intensify their campaign against the VDCs.
It bears recalling that the affected people of Kishtwar on Saturday made this revelation during their meeting with a high-level delegation comprising Ministers, which was led by Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand. They opposed the demand seeking disbanding of the VDCs as put forth by militants and Kashmir-based leaders belonging to the NC and the Congress and told the visiting Ministers that they will resist the demand with full force. They said the same thing to the all-party delegation on Monday.
The growing demand for strengthening the VDCs needs to be viewed in this context. The authorities in the state and at the centre would do well to reject outright the demand seeking disbanding of the VDCs, as the need of the time is to strengthen the institution of the VDCs considering the prevailing situation in the state and violations of LoC and international border by Pakistan. |
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