On the first day after assuming charge as Home Minister, Amit Shah’s primary focus remained the state of Jammu and Kashmir.
While he was briefed on the situation in the Kashmir Valleyby Director, Intelligence Bureau, Rajiv Jain and Union Home Secretary RajivGauba, Shah also had a 15-minute-long, closed-door meeting with Governor SatyaPal Malik.
The situation in the state, which is presently underPresident’s rule, continues to be tense but under control.
Sources said that Home Ministry’s Internal SecurityDepartment and the Jammu and Kashmir Affairs division had earlier preparedspecial notes to be placed before the new Home Minister. The Jammu and
Kashmir division deals with counter-terrorism, the ArmedForces (Special Powers) Act and coordination between various ministriesincluding Defence and External Affairs.
In the evening, Malik discussed security matters with Shah. “Ihad a brief discussion with the Home Minister on the law and order situation inthe valley as well as on the border areas,” Malik told reporters after themeeting.
During the 15-minute meeting, the Governor apprised the HomeMinister about the preparation for the Amarnath Yatra.
The 46-day-long yatra will begin on July 1, the day of MasikShivratri, and would conclude on August 15, the day of Shravan Purnima.
Discussions were also held between the two on the law andorder situation in the Kashmir Valley and the border areas besides variousdevelopment issues.
“I have discussed security matters and developmentissues with the Home Minister,” Malik told reporters after the meeting.
The Governor, however, said that the issue related toholding assembly elections in the state was not discussed as the matter wasunder the purview of the Election Commission of India.
Jammu and Kashmir is under the central rule since June 2018and the assembly election is expected to be held later this year.
Sources said that Amit Shah had a joint meeting withSecretaries and heads of various divisions ranging from Border Management toInternal Security.
From Monday onward, he HM would be meeting the chiefs ofparamilitary forces including the Border Security Force, the Central ReservePolice Force, the Indo-Tibetan Border Police, the Sashastra Seema Bal, theCentral Industrial Security Force and other police organisations.
Sources said that Shah also expressed concern over Maoistviolence and also discussed activities of Jihadi groups, particularly aboutthose active in Kerela and adjoining states in south India.
“He (HM) would also review central security coverprovided by the MHA to VIPs and private persons. A lot of budget is being spenton providing central paramilitary cover to individuals,” said a source.
Shah said Saturday the country’s security and welfare of thepeople are the key priorities of the Modi government.
Two newly appointed ministers of state for home — G K Reddyand Nityanand Rai — who too took charge on Saturday, also attended thehour-long meeting.
“Country’s security and people’s welfare are Modigovernment’s priorities. Under the leadership of Modi ji, I will try my best tofulfil these priorities,” Shah tweeted in Hindi after assuming the charge.
Shah also thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for givinghim the responsibility of the Home Ministry.
“Today, I have taken the charge as India’s HomeMinister. I am thankful to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for reposing faith inme,” he said.
Earlier Saturday, Shah was given a warm welcome at the NorthBlock office of the Home Ministry by Union Home Secretary Rajiv Gauba,Intelligence Bureau chief Rajiv Jain and other senior officials.
Shah took charge two days after he was sworn-in following alandslide victory of the BJP-led NDA.
Another Home Ministry official said Shah is expected toprioritise the NDA government’s policy of zero tolerance towards terrorism andchecking illegal immigration.
The NDA won a landslide mandate in the recently concludedLok Sabha election with the saffron party winning 303 of the 542 seats thatwent to polls.Shah was the key architect of the BJP’s victoryas the party president.