Separatism in J&K more out of convenience than conviction: Minister

Pakistan never reconciled to J&K becoming a part of India and resorted to all kinds of strategies which have failed to yield results. JITENDRA SINGH, Union minister

NEWDELHI: Union minister Jitendra Singh on Saturday said that separatism in Jammu and Kashmir is more out of convenience rather than conviction and the children of separatists are enjoying life while those of common people are suffering.

The minister said that terrorism in Kashmir was mercenary in nature and is not driven by any conviction, ideology or motivation.

“It is a paid terrorism perpetrated, funded and sponsored by hostile powers which all of us know,” Singh said in an apparent reference to Pakistan.

He said Pakistan never reconciled to Jammu and Kashmir becoming a part of India and therefore resorted to all kinds of tactics and strategies which have failed to yield the results it had envisaged.

Singh said if at all there was any issue pertaining to Jammu and Kashmir, it was to retrieve the Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and restore the original culture and demographic character of the state which would be possible only by the return of the displaced Kashmiri Pandit community. Terming the separatists’ freedom model as fake, Singh said, “It is a model that follows the pattern of getting the neighbours’ children to become jihadis and lodging your own children in safe heavens.”

HURRIYAT INCLUDES PAK IN EVERYTHING

“The problem with Hurriyat is that they can’t even go to the toilet without Pakistan. They want to include Pakistan in every thing,” the minister said.

He further added, “I have made it clear that we won’t have anything to do with Pakistan in Kashmir. Talks will take place with Pakistan like they do between any two countries but that would be outside Kashmir not inside it.”