Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday appreciated the “significant improvement” in the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir, while reiterating the zero tolerance policy of the Modi government for militancy.
He also stressed on continued strict action against”militant funding” and stated that the security arrangements for the upcomingAmarnath yatra commencing July 1 would be tightened further.
The Home Minister, who arrived Kashmir on two-day visit onWednesday, took a series of review meetings related to security preparednessfor Amarnath yatra, overall security scenario, status of various developmentalschemes. He also met various delegations that include Sarpanchs, Panchs and afew youth delegations at SKICC before wrapping up his visit on Thursday.
Informing the media persons about the decisions taken andthe
directions passed by the Home Minister, Special SecretaryInternal Security in Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), A P Maheswari said thatShah appreciated the significant improvement in security situation.
“He directed that there should be zero tolerance towardsmilitancy and militants,” Maheswari informed.
“The Home Minister also stated that there should becontinued strict action against terror funding. He stated that the rule of lawshould be enforced.”
“The Home Minister after reviewing overall security scenariodirected that security arrangements of Amarnath Yatra will be tightenedfurther.”
Maheswari said the security agencies gave a detailedbriefing on the security scenario in the State, the results of last one year’sefforts of containing militancy and their future plans. “While the improvementsin the security scenario were noted and appreciated, there was a detaileddiscussion on what further improvements could be made for restoring peace andnormalcy in the State,” he said.
J&K Chief Secretary BVR Subramanyam said that Shahdirected to ensure poorest of poor gets the benefits of welfare schemes. “TheHome Minister held a number of meetings to assess the security scenario, reviewpreparations for the Amarnath Yatra and provide good governance in the State,”he said. “The meetings were attended by Governor Sataya Pal Malik, Union HomeSecretary Rajiv Gauba, all four advisors to the Governor and senior officialsof the State and Central governments, security agencies and armed forces.”
The J&K Chief Secretary said that the review ofdevelopment programs focussed on improving the lives of common man. “The reviewcovered a wide range of issues connected with improving the economic conditionof the people of J&K, provide them with employment and livelihoodopportunities and benefits of social security schemes and raising theirincome,” he said.
Subramanyam said that the review focussed on goodgovernance, accelerating development, strengthening the panchayat and municipalsystem, fast tracking the implementation of Prime Minister’s DevelopmentPackage and building first rate infrastructure.
“The review also focussed on inclusive growth for allcommunities, balanced regional development with special emphasis on employmentgeneration and reaching out to the youth,” the J&K Chief Secretary said.
ON PANCHAYATI RAJ/URBAN LOCAL BODY SYSTEM:
According to the J&K Chief Secretary, the Home Ministerstated that the state should ensure that the newly established Panchayati Rajand ULB system takes deep roots and establishes itself as the third tier ofgovernment. “The Home Minister stressed that there should be a drive to ensurethat Panchayats and ULBs spend the funds given to them. These funds run intothousands of crores and ensuring their proper utilisation would benefit thepeople,” he said.
ABOUT WEAKER SECTIONS OF SOCIETY:
The J&K Chief Secretary stated that the Home Ministerstated during his meeting with the delegation from Gujjars and Bakerwals thatthere are many socially disadvantaged groups in the state such as Paharis,Gujjars, Bakarwals and other economically weaker sections of the society. “TheHome Minister said that the reservation benefits extended to them should be implementedvigorously and no posts in these classes should go vacant,” the Chief Secretaryinformed.
ON ANTI-CORRUPTION BUREAU:
According to the Chief Secretary, the Home Minister statedthat state government should take steps to ensure that the newly created ACBfocuses on cases of rampant corruption by the “High and Mighty.”
YOUTH OUTREACH:
The Home Minister maintained that government should preparea programme for reaching out to the youth who are highly skilled such as MBBS,Engineers, MBAs, etc and do not have gainful employment or livelihood.
CONTINIOUS MONITORING:
The Union Home Minister stated that he would reviewperiodically the performance of the State on multiple fronts, the J&K ChiefSecretary informed the media men at Media Complex here.