| Only ballot will help J&K, says Governor | | |
SRINAGAR: J&K Governor Satya Pal Malik on Wednesday said nothing can be achieved through bullets and it is the ballot which will help take the state forward to new heights.
In a news conference here this afternoon, Mr Malik said it was strange that Pakistan continued to train and push militants into Jammu and Kashmir.
“Despite realising that nothing can be achieved by violence, the neighbouring country is still training and pushing militants into Jammu and Kashmir, where the recruitment of new local boys has come down,” said Mr Malik.
Even a former Pakistan President had once told leaders in Jammu and Kashmir that he could not do anything and whatever was being offered within the system should be accepted, Mr Malik said.
The Governor said Pakistan despite being in deep trouble and realising that nothing can be achieved is still sending militants. But, he said, ”Our security forces guarding the Line of Control (LoC) are eliminating them (militants) on the border or within ten kms. If some of them are reaching the residential areas they are also being eliminated,” he said.
He said powerful LTTE in Sri Lanka which had support from ten countries could not achieve anything and had to vanish. So, he said, militants are not so powerful in Kashmir and it is in their interest to shun the path of militancy and return to mainstream.
Mr Malik said not many local youths are joining militancy now because of the efforts of locals and others. Besides, the youths have also realised that nothing can be achieved through this violence, he added.
A number of policies have been announced by the Centre for the rehabilitation of these youths who have shun the path of violence and started their lives afresh.
He said the only difference between foreign militants and locals is that while the locals get killed in operations within few hours, those coming from the neighbouring nation take few days before they get eliminated.
Seeking cooperation from common people, media and political parties, he said people will to work in tandem to increase the voting percentage in the state.
People are getting elected by securing ten or more per cent votes when a large number of voters are staying away.
”We should work to encourage people to participate in the democratic process,” he said.
Asked about the Assembly elections, Mr Malik reiterated that he has nothing say about the holding of polls. It is the Election Commission of India (ECI) which decides when the elections will be held, he said, adding that the Union Home Ministry will also have to give its recommendation.
(AGENCIES)
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