Srinagar, Oct 22: Stating that India won’t be intimidated by repeated ceasefire violations by Pakistan, Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy, Dr Farooq Abdullah on Monday said that Islamabad is habitually violating ceasefire to push in “infiltrators” to this side.
 He also said that Government of India doesn’t have funds to scrap the LPG cap but efforts were on to persuade New Delhi to accept J&K as a “special case”.
 Talking to reporters on the sidelines of a function at Sher-e-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC) on the banks of famous Dal Lake here, Dr Farooq said Pakistan has always been resorting to ceasefire violations along LoC and international border. “They do it to push infiltrators to this side to foment trouble. We won’t be scared by their (Pakistan’s) actions,” he said. “The two countries can’t afford war. Neither can India afford to attack Pakistan, nor can Pakistan attack India,” he said.
 Pakistan recently violated the ceasefire in Churunda village of Uri area of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district in which three civilians including a girl got killed. The incident evoked strong reaction from Chief Minister Omar Abdullah who urged Pakistan to respect the ceasefire pact.
 Replying to a query on LPG cap, the Union Minister said it (LPG cap) was a compulsion for GoI as it had no funds to lift the cap. “Majority of the people in Indian states can buy a gas cylinder at the cost of Rs 800. That is why subsidized cylinders were capped at six per year. But J&K should be considered as a special case given the harsh weather it faces during winters,” said Dr Farooq, who is also the president of the ruling National Conference.
 He said J&K should be given the benefit of being a “mountainous state” of north India. “The people of J&K should be given more cylinders keeping in view the acute cold conditions it faces in winters. We have requested the Union Petroleum Minister to increase the cap for our state given the harsh winter conditions,” Dr Farooq said.  The Union Minister said he was hopeful that GoI would accept the state as a special case and increase the number of cylinders. “Plus, a delegation from J&K comprising ministers and MLAs is also set to go to New Delhi to meet Prime Minister,” he said.
 The NC president refused to reply to a query regarding Hurriyat (G) chairman Syed Ali Geelani’s threat to launch an agitation after Eid-ul-Azha against the alleged road construction to the Amarnath cave shrine.  “I won’t talk about him (Geelani),” Dr Farooq said.
 On the death of famous Bollywood director, Yash Chopra, he said the demise was unfortunate as the person was “an ambassador” for Kashmir. “His death is a very big shock. Even his last film (Jab Tak Hai Jaan) was shot in Ladakh, Srinagar and Gulmarg,” he said. “I was close to Chopra. Whenever I used to visit Mumbai, I would meet him. A few months before, he met me and said he wanted to shoot his last film in Kashmir. I extended my full support to him.”

Lastupdate on : Mon, 22 Oct 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Mon, 22 Oct 2012 18:30:00 GMT
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