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| PM worried, US pokes nose | | | Early Times Reporter
Jammu | Aug 20
Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh has once again made public his deep worries over the situation assuming in Jammu and Kashmir following controversy on Shri Amarnath Shrine land transfer as the international community too has started speaking about the crisis making it tough diplomatic challenge for India.
Three days after the United Nations Spokesman said that the Secretary General is monitoring the situation, the US has expressed concern over "recent incidents" along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir and "some violence" in the northern state and said attention needs to be paid to calm down things.
"We have been concerned about some of the incidents recently along the Line of Control as well as some violence that has occurred in Jammu and Kashmir," US Assistant Secretary of State Richard Boucher said in an interview to an Indian magazine.
"We feel that everybody needs to pay attention to calm things down and get back to solving problems," he was quoted as saying in a press release issued by the magazine.
He did not specify the issues he was talking about. Pakistani troops have violated the five-year-old ceasefire agreement 22 times since January and have provoked reactions from Indian troops, though the latter have refused to retaliate on most occasions.
Meanwhile, in an apparent reference to the divide caused by the Amarnath land issue in Jammu and Kashmir, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today said the tradition of harmony in the country was facing a "grave challenge" with "divisive forces" being at work in this direction.
Speaking at a function to give away 'Rajiv Gandhi Sadbhavna Award' here, Singh said the country was once again confronting "forces trying to spread hatred and disharmony".
Hailing the culture of harmony as the foundation of the Indian civilisation, he said "this tradition of Sadbhavana faces a grave challenge today."
"The divisive forces at work seek to challenge the very essence of India," Singh said at the function attended by Congress President Sonia Gandhi, several ministers and other senior Congress leaders.
Though he did not make any specific mentions, he was apparently referring to the Amarnath land transfer row which has created a divide between Jammu and Kashmir regions.
The Prime Minister's comment came five days after he warned against "divisive politics" while referring to Amarnath crisis.
Advocating dialogue and reconciliation as pursued by Rajiv Gandhi, Singh said "Conflicts need to end first in the minds of men and be replaced with sadbhavna (harmony)". |
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