M A I N   N E W S

Infiltration on, says George
Tribune News Service and PTI

Defence minister George Fernandes unveils the foundation stone of a housing complex for Kashmiri pandit migrants at Mattan, Anantnag, on Sunday. Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed is also seen in the picture. — PTI photo

Mattan (Anantnag), September 14
Admitting that there has been an escalation in violence in Jammu and Kashmir recently, Defence Minister George Fernandes said here today that infiltration of militants from across the border was going on.

Replying to questions from mediapersons after a function here this morning, Mr Fernandes said whenever there was a rise in militants’ violence, there had always been a “military response to it”.

The Defence Minister was here to lay the foundation stone of a housing complex under the integrated development of the famous temple here. This is expected to boost pilgrimage as the temple is one of the important destinations during the annual Amarnath yatra.

The Defence Minister was accompanied by Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and his ministerial colleagues.

Earlier, addressing gathering of local residents, Mr Fernandes said there had been a vast change in the overall situation of the state. He added that the number of visitors to the state had been increased during the past year. This, he said, was due to the improvement in the situation in the state. He also lauded the measures taken by the coalition government headed by Mr Sayeed.

The Defence Minister said the Prime Minister had informed the Union Cabinet about the provision of one lakh jobs to Kashmiri youths, the process for which would be completed within an year.

Mr Sayeed said the government was making efforts for the rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandits.

“We will give incentives to those migrants who want to return to their homes in the valley”, he said. Mr Sayeed said Kashmiri Pandits as well as Muslims were forced to migrate due to security concerns.

Describing the recent surge in violence in the state as a war of nerves, Sayeed said the enemies of peace were continuing with their conspiracies to derail the normalisation process.

Accusing the previous National Conference government of misusing the central funds for Kashmiri migrants, he said they showed an expenditure of Rs 31 crore for provision of basic amenities to the people living in the migrant camps, but on the ground, the situation was pathetic.

Mr Raman Mattoo, the only Kashmiri Pandit minister in the coalition government in the state, lauded the support given to him by Muslims and asked his community in other parts of the country to return.

“When I jumped into politics two years ago, I was told I would be killed. But my Muslim brethren has always ensured my safety and I am thankful to them for that”, he added.

State Minister for Revenue and Rehabilitation Hakeem Mohammad Yaseen said steps for the rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandits had already been initiated.

“But we need funds for complete rehabilitation for Kashmiri Pandits and I hope that the Centre would support us in his endeavour”, he said.

Mr Fernandes asserted that there was no incursion into the Indian territory by Chinese forces, saying that the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Himalayan region between the two countries had not yet been finalised.

“There is no intrusion in Ladakh ... our men go to that side and they come to this side. The LAC is there, on which a final decision is yet to be taken,” Mr Fernandes said.

Commenting on media reports that the Chinese army had intruded into the Indian territory in Ladakh region, Mr Fernandes said: “Such cross-overs are a routine matter”.

He said the coalition government accorded top priority for extending relief to the Pandits by improving the living conditions in the camps.