Author: PTI
Publication: The Times of India
Date: May 23, 2002
URL: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow.asp?art_id=10779091
Following is the text of Prime Minister
Atal Bihari Vajpayee's statement distributed at a press conference here
on Thursday:
I am pleased to meet mediapersons
at the end of my three-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir. I had stated in
Parliament that I would visit J&K after the end of the Budget session.
At the time I didn't know that two incidents would cast a ring of shock,
sorrow and outrage around my visit.
My visit began on May 21 when I
visited a military hospital in Jammu to meet survivors of the gruesome
terrorist attack at Kaluchak on May 14. This attack, first on a Himachal
Road Transport bus and later on an army camp, was carried out by terrorists
based and trained in Pakistan. The fact that many of those killed in the
carnage were children and women shows the barbaric nature of Pakistan-sponsored
cross-border terrorism.
On the very day of my arrival came
the tragic news of the assassination of Shri Abdul Gani Lone, a respected
political figure of Jammu & Kashmir. There is no doubt that Lone was
gunned down by the enemies of peace because of his courageous voice against
the gun culture, a voice that was beginning to get more and more influential.
I join all the peace loving people of J&K in mourning the death of
this great son of Kashmir and spirited champion of Kashmiriyat. MORE PTI
SC SB PAL JW 05231824 D The terrorist attack at Kaluchak was designed to
demoralise the people of India and our security forces. Similarly, the
dastardly assassination of Abdul Gani Lone was designed to demoralise and
silence the forces of peace, normalcy and democratic dialogue in Jammu
and Kashmir. The same sinister design was also evident from the terrorist
attacks on J&K Legislative Assembly in Srinagar on October 1 and on
Indian Parliament on December 13.
These acts of violence are a part
of the twenty-year-long campaign of terrorism, extremism and subversion
in J&K and in other parts of India, planned, aided and abetted from
across the border. We will not let Pakistan carry on with its this proxy
war against India any longer. As I said in my address to our brave jawans
at Kupwara yesterday, India has accepted the challenge thrown by our neighbour
and we are preparing ourselves for a decisive victory against the enemy.
My presence at today's meeting of
the Unified Command in Srinagar, along with our Home Minister and Defence
Minister, is also intended to convey the message of India's resolve and
readiness. MORE PTI SC PAL SLD SB JW 05231828 D Both in Jammu and in Srinagar,
I met a large number of delegations belonging to various political parties
and social organisations. They also included representatives of Kashmiri
Pandits and border migrants. There was a ringing common theme in what all
of them said to me - that is, the people of Jammu & Kashmir want peace
and normalcy to return at the earliest. Militancy has no future in the
state because it has only brought suffering and pain to the people, irrespective
of their religion or region.
What was also common in the representations
made by all the delegations was their eager welcome of the forthcoming
elections to the J&K Legislative Assembly and their demand for free
and fair polling. My Government has already said - and I reiterate today
that we are committed to holding free and fair elections in the state.
Governor Shri Girish Chandra Saxena
and Chief Minister Shri Farooq Abdullah have apprised me of the various
requirements of the state. In response to what I have heard from the state
government and the various delegations, I am pleased to announce a package
for J&K covering many development and security issues. The package
has a specific focus on generation of employment opportunities for the
youth of the state.
I have a message for the people
of Jammu & Kashmir: Your pain and anquish is mine too. It is shared
by all the people of India. We are with you in your sorrow and we will
be with you in your joy.
