The “nefarious design” of the “anti-national elements” in Kashmir is to keep the State on the boil and say that the presence of security agencies was blocking the return of peace.
This was stated by the BJP here on Wednesday.
Party spokesperson Shahnawaz Husain strongly criticised the violence in Kashmir as well as the killing of CRPF men by Maoists in Chhattisgarh. Lamenting the “dilution” of the “thrust against Naxals” planned by the Union government, he said the game plan in Kashmir was to reduce the Army's presence and weaken the Armed Forces Special Powers Act. There was a deliberate attempt to portray security forces as “trigger happy” and “out of control.”
Mr. Husain felt “anti-national” elements conspired to keep Kashmir tense to disrupt the Amarnath Yatra. Almost on cue every year, at the time of the yatra, violence escalated in Kashmir. It was a ploy to curtail the yatra duration.
The party expressed its apprehension that Amarnath pilgrims would be attacked. Mr. Husain said the media should see through this “nefarious design” and not give credence to “lies and malicious propaganda” unleashed against the country and its security forces.
While appealing to the Prime Minister to ensure the safety of all pilgrims, the party said all political parties and organisations, especially in Jammu and Kashmir, must condemn the orchestrated attempt to disturb peace and harmony in the State.
On the recent killing of CRPF jawans in Chhattisgarh, the party reiterated its support for a multi-pronged strategy against Naxals and “full support” to Home Minister P. Chidambaram. It, however, alleged that there was lack of a clear-cut government policy and stark divergence of opinion among senior Congressmen that had emboldened Naxalites.
The party wanted to know what advice, if any, the National Advisory Council had to offer on the Naxal issue as well as the Kashmir violence. What was preventing the government and the Congress from adopting a strong posture against the killing of innocent people by Naxalites, the party asked.
