Early Times Report
JAMMU, Feb 27: The "power-hungry" and "dishonest" local BJP leadership wants to re-stitch alliance with the PDP and become part of the coalition Government in J&K at any cost, but the central leadership of the party is, it seems, dashing all of its hopes. The PDP wants the BJP-led NDA Government to befriend Pakistan by starting tripartite talks on J&K. But what the Defence Minister of India, Manohar Parrikar, said on Friday in the Lok Sabha about Pakistan and the Siachen glacial region of J&K was what the PDP will never appreciate. Indeed, his statement on Pakistan and Siachen has further widened the already rather wide gulf between the PDP and the BJP.
Notwithstanding the loss of 10 soldiers in avalanche in Siachen recently, Parrikar on Friday ruled out withdrawal of army from the icy heights in Jammu and Kashmir, saying Pakistan "cannot be trusted and it may occupy the strategic area if India vacates". "Vacating Siachen could lead to bigger loss of lives," he said, and reminded the Lok Sabha about the "experience" of 1984, when India evicted the Pakistani intruders from the strategically critical heights after a bloody fight.
"I (Parrikar) know we have to pay the price and I salute our armed forces personnel. But we have to maintain this position. We have to man the strategic position. The position is very important from the strategic point. I don't think anyone in this House can take Pakistan's words for granted…If we vacate the position, the enemy can occupy the position and they would have the strategic advantage. Then we would have to lose many more lives. We know the experience of 1984 (Siachen conflict),"Parrikar said while replying to questions against the backdrop of the recent loss of 10 soldiers in an avalanche.
On February 3, 2016, an avalanche hit an army post in a forward location in Siachen glacier, burying 10 soldiers, including a JCO. One of them Hanumanthappa was found alive under a huge mass of ice after six days but he died a few days later in the Army Hospital, New Delhi. |
