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| Separatists miss no occasion to malign forces: Governor | | | JAMMU, NOVEMBER 03- Governor Lt. General (Retd) S K Sinha today regretted that terrorists’ atrocities on civilians in Kashmir get unnoticed as a handful of separatists remain always on toes to malign the forces for human rights violations.
Interacting with a delegation of European Parliamentarians, the Governor said that the Army’s human rights record is far excellent than other armies tackling similar situations. He cited the example of Iraq and Wazirstan where heavy arms like helicopter gunships were used to meet the situation.
The delegation told the Governor about their meetings, among others, with some victims of terrorists violence in Srinagar yesterday.
He, however, added that complaints of violations against the Army and other forces are immediately looked into and action taken against guilty. Taking cognizance of various complaints, 17 personnel were sentenced, some of them getting imprisonment from two to 14 years.
The Governor was referring to the observations of Dr Charles Tannock, Co-President, Friends of India, who said that during their meeting with the Chairperson, National Human Rights Commission in New Delhi it was stated that the Army is seriously taking every complaint on human rights front.
On the condition of the people in Kashmir, the Governor said that they are forward-looking and far better off than Muslims in India. He compared below poverty level in Jammu and Kashmir with rest of India and said that against the national average of 26 per cent, only 3.7 per cent people in the State live under BPL. He said that unemployment is a national phenomenon and its impact is felt in Jammu and Kashmir too. He said the Government is sincerely endeavouring to address to this problem, which has accumulated due to absence of appropriate corporate sector or growth of industries, as investors could not invest in the State due to various factors.
Describing peace as imperative for prosperity and development, General Sinha said that the neighbouring country after failing in its designs on Kashmir resorted to proxy war that vitiated the situation in Kashmir. He said things are improving now and the peace process is gaining momentum with Pakistan. ‘Converting Line of Control into Line of Peace and Prosperity will help in giving a start to trade which will bring about prosperity in the region’, he added. He said terrorism has taken its toll and spread its tentacles to other parts of the country. ‘Those not so happy with India fast steering to progress will have to change their mind-set’, he maintained.
The Governor referred to the rich ethos of Kashmir, popularly known as Kashmiriyat, and said that this is the most effective tool to defeat the cult of violence. He elaborated that during the horrendous days of partition, a ray of light emanated from Kashmir, as the valley demonstrated high degree of harmony and communal amity. He said that he sees hope in revival of Kashmiriyat which got eroded due to rise of fundamentalism since 80s. In this context, he referred to the holding of two international seminars on ‘Central Asia- Prospect and Retrospect’ and recently held ‘Approaches to Kashmir Studies’ in Srinagar, which were, among others, attended by the delegates from Kryigystan, Kazakistan, Aazerbyjan and Pakistan. Such events are useful fora to understand each other’s culture, religion, languages and way of life. He said Central Asian countries too were forward looking and secular in their character.
General Sinha replied a volley of question on various subjects including genesis of terrorism, growth of fundamentalism and challenge of violence to the civilized world. He called for a united war against terrorism, which has emerged as the biggest threat of 21st century.
The other delegates present were Mr Jo Leinen, Germany, Mr Marcello Vernolla, Itlay, Mr Justas Vincas Palecais, and Ms Inese Vaildere, Latvia.
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