Home Minister downplays Omar’s ‘other option’ rant ‘Can’t become tougher by talking tough; Have to make compromises sometime’ √RAJA Jammu, Oct 22: A day after Chief Minister Omar Abdullah advised New Delhi to explore options other than dialogue to take on Pakistan, Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde on Tuesday downplayed Omar’s suggestion saying; “We cannot become tougher by talking tough.” Replying to a query whether India would talk tough with Pakistan over ceasefire violations and shelling along the border or maintain a compromising position, Shinde said, Whenever there is a good policy, we talk of compromise. We cannot become tougher by talking tough. Action is being taken whenever other side breaks the peace along the border. It is not that we are not taking action. We have taken action and we have proved it. On criticism that India has always been at receiving end, Shinde said: We cannot say that we are always at receiving end. We have to sometimes make compromises, but we cannot take that position always. If injustice is being done to us, we have to reply. Shinde, who arrived here this morning to review the security situation in Jammu region in the wake of escalation in ceasefire violations along the International Border (IB) and the Line of Control (LoC) and rise in infiltration bids, told reporters; “As per our information it is possible that Jamaat-ud-Daaw chief Hafiz Saeed must be giving training to militants on the other side of the border in various launching pads but unless that government (of Pakistan) hands him to us there is a problem,” Shinde said. Shinde asked Pakistan to create cordial atmosphere to carry forward peace talks, while reiterating that there was no need for third party intervention on Kashmir issue. “Our stand on Kashmir since the times of Jawaharlal Nehru is that it is inseparable part of India and any talks on it will be held between two countries and there is no need for any third country to intervene on the issue”, he said. The Union Minister also advised Pakistan to create cordial atmosphere for taking the peace process forward. “So far, 136 ceasefire violations have been reported this year, the highest in the past eight years. Even on Monday, Pakistani Rangers opened fire at 10 border posts,” he said. Flanked by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Union Home Secretary Anil Goswami and top officers of State, BSF and Intelligence agencies, Shinde reviewed the security situation at Samba BSF headquarters Shinde also conducted an aerial visit of IB and fenced areas besides surveying infiltration routes and damaged fenced areas and riverine border belts with Pakistan from Akhnoor in Jammu district to Pahadpur (in Kathua district). He admitted that ceasefire violations have triggered fear among the residents of border belts but Border Security Forces with the consent of State Government has provided safe shelters to those who had shifted from their villages. Giving brief about his visit, Shinde said he conducted an aerial survey of the locations from where Pakistan was time and again violating the ceasefire and pushing militants to this side. “We inspected Basantar, Ujj Nullah, Terni and others areas in Kathua. I have got feedback related to overall situation along the border from the BSF officials manning the field to get the real picture,” he said. Later the Union Minister also visited Hiranagar Police Station and Samba BSF headquarters where 13 people, including eight police and army personnel, had died in twin Fidayeen attacks on September 26. Earlier, Union Home Minister along with Union Home Secretary Anil Goswami and other senior home ministry officials arrived at Technical Airport here in the morning and flew to Samba where he had a detailed meeting with the senior BSF and Police officials about ceasefire violations. With inputs from PTI
Posted on: Wed, 23 Oct 2013 03:11:02 +0000
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