New Delhi: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister
Omar Abdullah on Tuesday emphasised that "political solutions for
the problems besetting" the state have to be worked out on a
pragmatic basis.
"Political discussions are inescapable if a lasting and
enduring solution to the problem of militancy in the state is
to be achieved.
"I would, therefore, once again emphasise that political
solutions for the problems besetting Jammu and Kashmir have to
be worked out on a pragmatic basis," he said while addressing
the Chief Ministers` Conference on Internal Security here.
Omar said most of internal security problems were rooted
in politics.
"As a matter of fact, even armed insurgencies are
essentially struggles for political space. It has been
realised over a period of time that issues involving contrary
positions can never be resolved through violent agitation and
confrontation," he said.
The chief minister said the most obvious approach would
be to seek appropriate political solutions for political
problems.
"A timely political solution to a problem would ensure
that it does not balloon into a full-fledged law and order or
internal security situation. I would, therefore, suggest that
this Conference should also focus on the strategic aspects
relating to internal security," Omar said.
He said while attention is being paid to the basic
infrastructure, skill up-gradation, proper equipment, such a
focus on the "nuts and bolts" of policing should not undermine
the importance of tackling and solving the fundamental
political issues which underpin internal security.
The Chief Minister said while there has been improvement
in the security situation of the state because of steady
decline in terror incidents, the street violence has
increased.
He lauded the "synergy" and "close cooperation" between
armed forces, the central paramilitary forces and the state
police for the continuous improvement in the security
situation in the state. He, however, cautioned that strict
vigil must continue to be enforced all along frontiers and all
attempts of infiltration must be neutralised.
The prolonged unrest in Kashmir Valley in the summer of
2010 resulted in the loss of many innocent lives, enormous
human and economic losses, closure of functioning on almost
all fronts and the irreparable disruption of the entire
education system, Omar said.
"Irrespective of the causes which led to this turmoil,
the events of the last summer have been most painful and
saddening. The involvement of the anti-social elements and the
exploitation of youth, particularly the young boys, in
aggravating the law and order situation was a tactical ploy of
the separatists to keep the situation abnormal," he said.
Omar said dealing with such law and order problems in
general and with the stone-throwing in particular, required a
completely different approach on the part of the police.
He asked the Centre to provide help in form of
protective gear for policemen and standard operating
procedures to deal with such stone-throwing incidents.
The chief minister said the state has one of the highest
police-population ratios in the country which needs more funds.
"I would request the Union Home Ministry to allocate
additional financial resources for meeting the expenditure
incurred for raising and maintaining the additional manpower
for a much longer period of time," he said.
Omar said two committees have been constituted to
examine and recommend the areas from which the Armed Forces
Special Powers Act could be withdrawn.
"The committees have been directed to submit their
recommendations at the earliest," he said.
PTI
