Guv: When LTTE couldn’t succeed, Kashmiri militants stand no chance
BATS FOR TALKS ‘In my opinion, militancy won’t end by killing militants, only dialogue will yield results’
JAMMU Gun is no solution and only talks can yield positive results, the Jammu and Kashmir governor Satya Pal Malik said on Wednesday while extending olive branch to the Kashmiri militants in Kashmir.
In his maiden media interaction here on Wednesday, Malik reminded militants in Kashmir about the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).
“If LTTE could not succeed, how can they? They stand no chance,” he said.
“In my opinion terrorism won’t end by killing terrorists. They will keep on attacking. At the same time, they won’t get bouquets in lieu of bullets. Our purpose is not to hunt them down but to end terrorism and make them realise that gun will yield nothing. When the LTTE could not do anything, they (Kashmiri militants) are no match to it,” he added.
The first political governor in five decades also said that he didn’t accord much importance to Pakistan.
“They are in shambles. Their economy is in ruins. They are selling buffaloes and cars to run their country,” he responded to a query vis-à-vis Pakistan’s role in fomenting terrorism in Valley.
“Pakistan always wants disruption and violence in Kashmir but they are not getting any success. They are frustrated over the fact that we successfully conducted the elections. I don’t want to give importance to Pakistan which is in ruins and selling buffaloes and cars to run their country,” he said.
When asked about measures to check increasing radicalisation of Kashmiri youth, he said that such youth have to be assured that radicalisation is of no use.
“Gun is no solution and only dialogue is the way out. They have to be convinced about talks to bring them back,” he said.
On corruption, Malik said he was not defaming Kashmiris by exposing corruption in the system.
“Those saying so are wrong. I have seen huge inequality in Kashmir. I have seen poor and indigent on one hand and sheer opulence and richness on the other. When corruption is checked, then only poor will get their due,” he said.
He further said that in a short span of two months in the state, he has not only understood the quantum of corruption but also have understood all the problems plaguing the restive state.
“I have grasped all the problems and I am trying to address them honestly,” he added.
On J&K Bank appointment scam, Malik said that whatever he divulged in the media was told to him by bank officials.
“It is not mandatory to be true. Without probe I can’t say for sure. J&K Bank is doing a wonderful job and is a successful institution for the state. I didn’t blame J&K Bank. Some youth had told me and I had repeated that. I have given directions to the Bank secretary to run it properly,” he said.