LOCALS SHOULD NOT SHELTER INSURGENTS: GUPTA
KAVINDER GUPTA, Jammu and Kashmir deputy chief minister
In an interview to HT, newly appointed Jammu and Kashmir deputy chief minister Kavinder Gupta says the trend of educated youth
joining militancy is worrisome. But somewhere, pro-Pakistan elements are luring them with money. The locals should not support insurgents. The government will not tolerate this, he says.
JAMMU : Strife-torn Jammu and Kashmir, a state plagued by Pak-sponsored terrorism, has seen a spurt in terror-related violence including stone pelting in Kashmir this year. The security scenario has also worsened. The Kathua rape has compounded the problems of the alliance between the BJP and the PDP. The incident has virtually pushed the state close to a vertical communal split between the majority Muslim and the minority Hindu population.
Kavinder Gupta, inducted as deputy chief minister on April 30, has a tough road ahead. In an exclusive interview, Gupta speaks to HT.
Q What is the situation in Kashmir today? There is a spurt in terrorrelated violence with a school bus being attacked.
The security scenario keeps fluctuating in Kashmir. Terror incidents do happen from time-to-time and have happened in the past as well. Our security forces, including the police and the paramilitary forces, are performing their duties with utmost restraint. I congratulate them for their indispensable services. On the attack on the school bus in Shopian, my message is that such attempts to vitiate the atmosphere harm the entire society. We should understand this and everyone should condemn such incidents in the strongest possible words. Every house has a child. They are our children.
In recent times, homegrown militancy has increased and educated youth have picked up guns, what is the strategy to restore normalcy in Kashmir?
Government strategy cannot be discussed in public domain. It involves getting the army, the police, the paramilitary and various other security and intelligence agencies to work cohesively. However, we will work with the utmost restraint to ensure minimal loss to the society and bare-minimum casualties. The trend of educated youth joining militancy is worrisome and a cause of serious concern. But, somewhere, pro-Pakistan elements are luring them with money. After demonetisation, many things came to the fore. I feel people should see and understand what Hurriyat and others of their ilk are doing. What their own families are doing and how they are misleading children of common people in Kashmir.
Political workers are being targeted in Kashmir. One such worker, Ghulam Nabi, was killed recently. Is PDP’s cadre missing from the ground? Has the outreach of the PDP failed?
I won’t say this as every party works according to the situation. Under such circumstances, we should work cautiously and patiently. They (insurgents) are active all the time. I would appeal through HT to the local people that they should not support them (insurgents) and not give shelter to them. Whoever does it will have to face the law.
Has amnesty to firsttime stonepelters on the advice of the Centre’s special representative, Dineshwar Sharma, delivered desired results?
This decision was taken in consultation with the Centre, including the Union home ministry. They are our youth, our children and we don’t want them to go astray.
Some results of amnesty to them are certainly there, but a lot remains to be done. It is not as if stone-pelting started in our government. It’s been there for long.
Chief minister Mehbooba Mufti often talks about initiating political dialogue with Pakistan and separatists. What is your take?
It is the Centre’s prerogative. The CM can have her view. From time-to-time, the Centre has also given indications on a dialogue, but Pakistan’s acts are detrimental to talks. How can a dialogue start when people on the border are being targeted and when Pakistan is fuelling insurgency? Otherwise, a dialogue looks distant.On talks with the separatists, it is again the prerogative of the Centre.
What are the implications of the Kathua incident on BJPPDP alliance? There have been demands of a CBI probe.
It was an unfortunate incident in the land of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi where we worship daughters as Kanjaks. We have to ensure such incidents don’t happen again. The PM has taken serious cognizance. Two party ministers had to resign on moral grounds after questions were raised on their presence at a rally. What more can the BJP do for the state? I don’t think the Kathua incident has to do anything with the BJP-PDP alliance. On the CBI probe, the matter is sub-judice.
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The trend of educated youth joining militancy is worrisome and a cause of serious concern. But, somewhere, proPakistan elements are luring them with money.
KAVINDER GUPTA, J&K deputy chief minister