CHANDIGARH: The fight between the two Indian ministers holding sensitive portfolios has lead to the Indian Prime Minister P_V Narasimha Rao decision to personally handle all sensitive matters relating to Kashmir. The lack of coordination between S.B.Chavan Union Home Minister and Rajesh Pilot minister of internal security on problems concerning the border state were causing embarrassment to the Indian Prime Minister

Recently the minister of internal security Rajesh Pilot has urged the Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao to advise the Union home minister $.B.Chavan not to blame Pakistan ‘on Kashmir violence as chances of dialogue are looking bright. However S.B.Chavan has not only blamed Pakistan for abetting militancy in India especially in Kashmir and Punjab but said Pakistan has nuclear weapons and it may use them against India. After the visit of §.B.Chavan to Chandigarh and Jammu the Prime Minister Rao decided to personally handle all sensitive issues relating to Kashmir. Both Chavan and Pilot were directed by the Prime Minister not to sound discordant notes with Pakistan determined to make a fresh bid in internationalizing the Kashmir issue Sources revealed.

The Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao has taken a serious view of the ¢all by the Pakistan Prime Minister Ms. Benazir Bhutto for a strike in country to express Pakistan’s solidarity with Kashmiris on Feb.5 India has also decided to dispatch a special team to assess the impact of Bhutto’s pronouncements on Kashmir during her Davos visit. India would formulate a Counter strategy to whatever Bhutto does following her form coming foreign tour sources revealed. The Prime Minister has also asked Rajesh Pilot not to make much of the fact that his senior colleague continued to dabble in the sensitive state As a result of Pilot’s endeavors may have been rendered infructuous the Prime Minister reportedly stressed that (his was no time to cavil) but genuinely explore the possibility of what could be done to redeem the situation.

Meanwhile the reports reaching here said that Kashmiris twice disrupted the speech of Minister of Internal Security Rajesh Pilot twice during his address to & group of Prominent citizens and! as g result Pilot has to ‘apologies’ for the use of anci Islamic comments.

The first provocation’ came when Pilot said in same parts of Kashmir Muslims had protected their Hindu brethren against militant’s attacks. Several Members were on their fact saying that this was patently false and alleged it was made for political reasons and said that the realty is this that Kashmiri Muslims in fact want Ajadi (freedom).

The commotion had barely died down when the minister recalling days of peace in the state said there were instances of Muslims and Hindus being ‘related. There was renewed commotion and this time the minister was unable to proceed.

A Kashmiri leader while taking exception to the remarks said the minister may be excused since he is young. At this the former Union minister Arif Mohammed Khan in tervened on behalf of Pilot and Said.

 Either you tell us in advance what You Want us to speak Failing that you have to give us the freedom to say what we wish to Pilot initially stood his ground but sensing trouble Said he was willing to withdraw his remarks.

Article extracted from this publication >> February 4, 1994