NEW DELHI: On Aug. 16, Minister of State for Home Rajesh Pilot ruled out elections in Kashmir till normalcy was restored in the troubled state.
Replying to clarifications from Rajya Sabha members on his Statement regardingly the bus tragedy in Jammu, Pilot said the government’s priority was to normalize the situation first.
Although BJP members tried to comer him by questioning him more closely on J&K Governor Krishna Rao’s claim that elections would be held in the state, maintaining that he personally had always said normalcy first and then elections. The situation al present was “delicate and difficult,” he said. He described as “dangerous” the fact that militancy in the state had taken a communal tum and appealed to members for their support in preventing this from flaring up.
Earlier, during Zero Hour, both the Houses expressed concern at the situation in Kashmir. Opposition members criticized the government for not protecting the spread of terrorism into the Jammu region. The government, they said, was speaking indifferent voices with the Governor claiming near normalcy in the state and the Home Minister saying the opposite.
In his reply in the Paiva Sabha riot admitted that the government had been unable to stop the growth of militancy in the Doda district where the bus tragedy took place, although it was aware of what was happening there.
He blamed the failure on the lack of a strong intelligence network which he said was due to the fear among the people of Kashmir to pass on tips about militants to the security forces,
The Minister said the government’s main effort was to gain the confidence and trust of the people of Kashmir. Without this he emphasized, militancy could not be tackled and defeated.
He squarely blamed Pakistan for the militancy in the state saying that ever-time there was an improvement on the ground, Pakistan did something to set it back.
In response to demands from social members, the Minister agreed that an all-party team of MPs visit Kashmir to study the situation for themselves.
He assured the House that the MPs could visit any place they wished to in the state.
Article extracted from this publication >> August 27, 1993
