Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said on Sunday that no force can stop India from “again making J&K a heaven on earth”, even as he strongly lauded the “bravery” of the police and other security forces “in fighting militancy in Kashmir.”
Addressing police and CRPF personnel in Anantnag on second day of his four-day visit to J&K, Rajnath said that “the nation is indebted to the supreme sacrifices of police and other security forces personnel and no amount of money can compensate these sacrifices.”
“We will again make J&K a heaven on earth and no force can stop the country from achieving this goal,” he said.
This is Rajnath’s fifth visit to J&K in a year.
Reiterating the commitment of the Prime Minister NarendraModi, the Home Minister assured that the government of India will provide all assistance to the state in resolving the “housing problem” of the forces personnel.
Rajnath visited the J&K police lines and a CRPF camp in Anantnag. He was accompanied by deputy chief minister Nirmal Kumar Singh and union home secretary Rajiv Gauba.
The Home Minister paid rich tributes to constable Imtiyaz Ahmad who was killed in a militant attack on a police patrol yesterday barely a kilometer away from the venue of Sunday’s meeting of the Home Minister at J&K Police Lines, and assistant sub-inspector Abdur Rasheed who was killed in a militant attack in the district last month, a Press Information Bureau handout issued on Sunday evening said.
“I can’t bear the tearful face of his daughter, Zohra. Yesterday, another cop Imtiyaz was killed by militants. J&K policemen are giving sacrifice for Kashmir, for the country and for Kashmiris, but it is unfortunate that people are not ready to understand it,” he said.
“This is not an ordinary sacrifice, this is the supreme sacrifice,” the Home Minister said, addressing the J&K police personnel. “I am short of words to salute your bravery in the line of duty; even the Prime Minister has praised your courage.”
“It’s not only J&K but the whole nation which is proud of the bravery and valour exhibited by the security forces in facing the terrorism sponsored by the neighbouring country,” the Home Minister said.
He said the government is “fully aware of the extremely challenging circumstances” in which the police and security forces are working under and is “making all-out efforts for the security and welfare of the police and paramilitary personnel.”
Rajnath said a trauma centre has been sanctioned and bullet-proof vehicles will be provided at all police stations in J&K. The Centre, he said, has also released adequate funds for procurement of bullet-proof vehicles, vests and latest equipment for police stations.
The Home Minister later addressed a SainikSammelan at the CRPF 90 Battalion Camp in Anantnag.
“Courage is not something that can be bought from the market; you are born with unassailable and unmatched courage,” he said.
Assuring that the Centre is ready to extend more facilities to the CRPF personnel, Rajnath said the government will “consider providing helicopter services” to the CRPF personnel in J&K.
“It is my aim to provide at least Rs one crore to the families of our martyrs from the CAPFs.”
He said the government launched “Bharat ke Veer” portal to “support the families of our martyrs and the nation as a whole has given tremendous support to their cause.”
The Home Minister said it was only the local police that can help normalise the situation in Kashmir.
Reiterating that he has come to meet anyone with open mind, Singh said, ‘Magar Kashmir KoDeshatgardi Say NajaatDilao’ (But please rid Kashmir of terrorism).”
He said he must be the only union home minister who visited J&K four times every year.
Earlier, addressing the police personnel, director general of police, J&K, SP Vaid underlined the need for “providing a safe and secure environment to the families of the police personnel.”
“Despite inadequate infrastructure and maintenance grant and the enemy’s nefarious designs to demonise the police personnel through the social media, they are performing the most difficult task with utmost bravery and devotion,” he said.
Meanwhile, Chairman of Hurriyat Conference (G) Syed Ali Geelani on Sunday said that the talk of developmental projects in Jammu and Kashmir is “meaningless when people are facing repression.”
Commenting on a meeting between Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and Home Minister Rajnath Singh here yesterday, Geelani said: “It is meaningless to talk about development of J&K as all these projects are just a prank and elusive dreams as people are being mercilessly killed, maimed, blinded, women molested, properties vandalised and there is no guarantee of life and dignity and every soul is at stake.”
“We have a bitter experience and are witness to the fact that New Delhi exploited our resources and state authorities bargained these power projects for their vested interests. They can’t befool pro-freedom people,” he said.
He said that on the one hand, they are parroting about so-called development and on the other “following their sinister designs of changing and altering the demography of the state by aiming to amend and do away with Article 370 and Article 35-A.” Geelani thanked people for observing complete shutdown against the visit of Home Minister and NIA raids, on Sunday. “Overwhelming support of people for right to self-determination has frustrated New Delhi,” he said.
“People should not get swayed by hollow slogans of state authorities and I urge them to follow mission of freedom with steadfastness, persistence and commitment.” Paying glorious tributes to youth slain in Shopian and Sopore gunfights, Geelani said that “we are pursuing the mission of Shahid Ahmad and all others who laid down their lives for a sacred cause.”
