news details |
|
|
| PM takes stock of Valley situation | | Centre to stand by J&K Govt before the challenge it faces from separatists stir | |
ABID SHAH
EARLY TIMES REPORT
NEW DELHI, June 30: The eruption of violent protests in Kashmir Valley since last week calling for large scale police deployment, firing and the consequent casualties came under intense review this evening at the top most level in New Delhi.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh after taking stock of the worsening situation with other Cabinet colleagues and security higher ups has decided to extend all possible support to J&K Government to meet the crisis.
It was felt in the meeting called by PM that the sudden storm of protests bringing police and paramilitary forces under fierce hail of stones from Sopore to Srinagar as also at other places in the Valley is backed from across the borders.
And the violent protests and scuffles between mobs of agitated youth and police that started from Sopore and spread to other parts of the Kashmir Valley, forcing authorities to impose curfew in as many as seven districts of the Valley, are feared in Delhi to be linked to Pakistan with militants joining and attacking the security personnel under the cover of mobs.
The meeting was attended by Union Home Minister P Chidambaram, Defence Minister AK Antony, National Security Adviser, Shiv Shankar Menon, Home Secretary GK Pillai, and officials from security and intelligence agencies.
Later, Chidambaram addressed the media where presenting his Ministry's monthly report card for June he said that the Centre was committed to stand by, support and provide every possible aid to the J&K Government to meet the crisis.
He said that the protests in the Kashmir Valley were anti-national. And in response to the question whether they were supported from across the borders by Pakistan, the Home Minister said that the protestors were supported by LeT or Lashkar-e-Toiba.
Significantly, Chidambaram has only days before been to Pakistan and about his visit to the neighbouring country he said that he had discussions with his Pakistani counterpart Rahman Malik about suspects, investigations action required in 26/11 Mumbai attack that happened in 2008.
About Amarnath pilgrimage that began today from Jammu and has to pass through the parts of the troubled Valley, Chidambaram said that his Government was committed to provide fool-proof security to the pilgrims. According to one report 3,000 Border Security Force personnel have been airlifted to ensure security through the route to famed Amarnath cave.
Chidambaram said, "Jammu & Kashmir witnessed a revival of stone-pelting and attacks on security forces. Beginning June 11, 2010, 11 civilian lives have been lost (many among them were teenagers). In the same period, 53 personnel of CRPF have been injured, many of them seriously. An inspector and a jawan of the CRPF have received bullet injuries.
"Yesterday, I made a statement on the situation in J&K and that statement may be read as part of this report. We have reiterated the instructions to the security forces to adopt maximum restraint while dealing with rioting crowds or stone-pelters. However, the Central Government remains committed to support the State Government in restoring law and order."
Chidambaram declined to answer a question regarding Army Chief General VK Singh's statement published in a newspaper here today about the need of a political initiative in Kashmir to consolidate the gains made by the security forces by bringing militancy to a near lull.
Yet, as things stand now in Kashmir militancy may be down but is far from being out. Only around the time Chidambaram was leaving for his Pakistan visit an Army officer Colonel Neeraj Sood was shot dead in a showdown with militants in Jammu and Kashmir.
And as for the present wave of protests though it does not involve Army thus far it may or may not be infiltrated by militants or LeT blowhards as feared by the top brass of the Government here but this indeed is furthering the task and cause of militants and separatists.
This has not only been causing a great concern in Delhi but there have also been demands from important sections for a fulsome response to the protests. Thus, the Centre has decided to step in. The first task before the State Government is to ensure to stop violations of curfew imposed by it. And Centre has thrown its weight behind the J&K Government and Chief Minister Omar Abduallh for this.
Sources informed about today's meeting called by PM say that the main purpose of Centre giving its full backing to Abdullah is to ensure that the State and Central Governments speak in one voice.
This is so mainly because earlier Abdullah and his other Cabinet colleagues have been trying to pacify agitating youth by criticising Central Reserve Police personnel. It is only after the situation turned for the worse that Abdullah sought Centre's help including a possible visit by Chidambaram to Srinagar.
When Chidambaram was asked about the possibility of such a visit today during his interaction with the media here, he said that the State Government was first going to ensure that the situation became normal and after that he might well visit the Valley.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
STOCK UPDATE |
|
|
 |
| BSE
Sensex |
 |
| NSE
Nifty |
|
|
| |
CRICKET UPDATE |
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
