Can’t offer precise time frame for conducting Assembly polls in J&K: Rajnath Singh  

Ø India can hit terror networks across border if need arises

Ø AFSPA to go from J&K when permanent peace comes

Ø Pak has no locus standi on PoJK

Ø Effective action against terrorism taken under PM Modi

Ø World now listening to India with more attention

JAMMU: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday said the democratic process would soon be initiated in Jammu and Kashmir. However, he did not give a specific timeline for the development.

The senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader also said the government cannot provide a specific time frame for the withdrawal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) from the region.

”With the abrogation of Article 370 (of the Constitution), our aim is to restore normalcy in Jammu and Kashmir as swiftly as possible. We are committed to commencing the democratic process in the region at the earliest, thus fulfilling the long-standing aspirations of its people,” Singh said in response to a query on when will the Assembly polls be held in the Union Territory.

Asked whether the restoration of the legislative setup (holding elections) would enhance or disrupt the security situation, he said he cannot offer a precise time frame for conducting the Assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir. However, he expressed confidence that the process would not be unnecessarily delayed.

”I cannot provide a specific time frame, but I assure you that it will not be a lengthy process. That is what I can confidently say,” Singh said.

Asked about concerns regarding China’s assistance to Pakistan in constructing border infrastructure, Singh said, ”We possess the capability to address any such challenge. We will undoubtedly overcome such challenges.”

India can hit terror networks across border if need arises

Earlier while addressing a National Security Conclave at the University of Jammu, he said that India is getting more powerful and can hit terror networks on this side of the border as well as across it if the need arises. “Pulwama and Uri were both unfortunate incidents… The Prime Minister took just 10 minutes to take a decision (on carrying out surgical strikes) which shows his strong willpower. Our forces not only neutralised the terrorists on this side but also went across the border to finish them off,” Singh said.

The Defence Minister stressed that the world, including Muslim countries, is united against terrorism. He said cash-strapped Pakistan would achieve nothing by “parroting Kashmir” and should instead put its house in order.

In his over 40-minute address, the minister asserted that India has taken major action against terrorism under the PM Modi led government and referred to the surgical strikes carried out across the Line of Control (LoC) in 2016 and the Balakot air strike in 2019.

“Bharat ab pehle jaisa Bharat nahi raha. Bharat takatwar banta jaa raha hai. Zaroorat padi to Bharat seema ke iss par bhi maar sakta hai aur zaroorat paditoh uss paar bhi jaa sakta hai (India is not the same as it used to be. It is getting more powerful. If needed, India can hit on this side of the border and can go across the border as well,” the Defence minister said.

 AFSPA could be removed from J&K when permanent peace comes

The Defence Minister Rajnath said that the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) could be removed from Jammu and Kashmir when “permanent peace” would be there in the Union Territory.

“Today, AFSPA has been removed from large parts of the northeast. I am waiting for the day when permanent peace will come in Jammu and Kashmir and AFSPA will be removed from here too,” said Singh.
Noting that the entire network of terrorism was operating in J&K for decades, Singh said, “Today strict action has been taken against that network by weakening it to a great extent. We have stopped the funding of terrorism, stopped the supply of arms and drugs and along with the elimination of terrorists, the work of dismantling the network of underground workers who work here is also going on.”
Singh referred to the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019 and said while the common people of Jammu and Kashmir were kept away from the mainstream for a long time, they also became a “hindrance” in taking action against anti-national forces.
“Today, most of the big countries of the world are united against terrorism,” he said and added that the joint statement issued recently by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Joe Biden during the US state visit clearly shows how today India has changed the mindset of the whole world, including that of the United States, on the issue of terrorism.
Singh said, “It has been clearly stated in this Joint Statement that there should be concerted action against the UN listed terrorist organisations, which include Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammed and Hizbul Mujahideen. It has also been said in this joint statement that Pakistan should put a stop to every terrorist act taking place in its territory and should not allow its land to be used for this.”

 Pak has no locus standi on PoJK

The Defence Minister said, “Pakistan Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (POJK) is, was and will remain a part of India and the Pakistan government will achieve nothing by repeatedly claiming PoJK,”

He emphasized that “illegal occupation of the PoJK does not make locus standi of Pakistan.”

“A unanimous resolution has been passed in the Parliament of India regarding PoJK that it is a part of India only. Not one but at least three proposals of this intention have now been passed in the Parliament,” Singh said.

“A large part of Jammu and Kashmir is under the occupation of Pakistan. People on other side are seeing that people are living their lives peacefully in J-K. People living in POJK going through a lot of suffering and they will raise demand to go with India,” Singh said.

Effective action against terrorism taken under PM Modi

The Defence Minister said that India has taken major action against terrorism under the Modi government.
”Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, our government started effective action against terrorism and for the first time not only the country but also the world came to know what is the meaning of zero tolerance against terrorism,” he said.
He also said that Prime Minister Modi took just 10 minutes to decide on the surgical strikes.
The defence minister said Jammu and Kashmir has suffered the brunt of terrorism for long. ”People here know how the poison of terrorism hollows out the society,” he said.
Singh said it would not be an exaggeration to say that the PM Modi-led government has laid the strong foundation for ”revolutionary reforms” in the country, which is the biggest achievement of this government.

”I remember the words of Modi at his oath ceremony in 2014 when he said ‘saughandh iss mitti ki desh nahi mitne doonga, desh nahi jhookne doonga ((I vow on this country’s soil, I won’t let the country be erased, I won’t let the country stop, I won’t let the country bow down),” he said, adding the Prime Minister has kept his pledge in letter and spirit.

World now listening to India with more attention

The Defence Minister said that India’s prestige and stature have increased on the world stage under Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
He said the world is now listening intently when India speaks, which was not the case earlier.

Under the Modi-led government, the prestige of India has gone up on the international stage and so has its stature. Earlier, when India used to say something at international forums, it was not taken so seriously, the Defence Minister said.

He said the situation has changed after Modi took over in 2014.

When India speaks at any international forum today, the world listens intently, he said.

His remarks come in the backdrop of the Prime Minister’s just concluded six-day visit to the US and Egypt during which several landmark agreements were signed.

Referring to Prime Minister Modi’s outreach in foreign countries over the years, he noted that the prime minister of one country referred to him as “boss”, while US President Joe Biden said Modi is so popular that one desires to have his autograph.

At a diaspora event in Sydney last month, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had described Modi as “the boss” and said his Indian counterpart was accorded a welcome that even American rock star Bruce Springsteen did not get while performing at the same venue in 2017. (Agencies)

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