Gearing up to dismiss the ongoing unrest in Kashmir, the central government today gave an outline of its strategies. In order to bring normalcy in the disturbed state, the government will confront all those indulging in violence along with making efforts to develop the valley, a task which was “denied” for the last 60 years.
Acknowledging that situation in Kashmir was “serious”, senior union minister Arun Jaitley said those indulging in stone-pelting in Kashmir are “not satyagrahis but aggressors” who target police and security forces but some people with limited vision cannot see this.
Addressing a rally on the outskirts of Jammu city, he also slammed Pakistan for the current unrest, saying it was “attacking the integrity of India” in a “new way” after failing to snatch the state by waging wars and fuelling trouble ever since partition in 1947.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has three priorities for Jammu and Kashmir, said Jaitley, Minister of Finance.
Outlining these priorities, he said, “There will be no compromise on the security and integrity of the country and no compromise with the people who indulge in violence.
“Secondly, as Jammu and Kashmir has faced violence and wars, it needs development which was denied for past 60 years by National Conference and Congress governments. Thirdly, Jammu, being the support base of BJP, needs added attention.”
His outlining of the priorities assumes significance as the opposition has been accusing the Modi government of having no policy with regard to dealing with the unrest.
The opposition parties have been pressing for a political solution and dialogue to address the unrest.
Talking in the context of ongoing 44-day unrest in Kashmir, Jaitley said, “Now this time, a serious situation has emerged in which Pakistan, separatists and religious forces have joined hands and now with a new way, they are attacking the integrity of India.”
Describing it as a “major challenge”, he said, “today in such a challenge, the need of the country is that we don’t compromise with the integrity and security of the nation.”
He asked people of Jammu and Kashmir to stand with the country in the “struggle against the separatists” so that “this new phase of Pakistani strategy of war is defeated this time as well”.
He described stone-pelters as aggressors. “They (stone pelters) are not satyagrahis but aggressors. If a police post manned by 10 police personal is attacked by 2000 stone pelters, it is an attack, but some people do not realise it,” he said.
(With PTI inputs)
