Indian Minister vows to take back Azad Kashmir from Pakistan
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NEW DELHI - Minister of state in PMO Dr Jitendra Singh on Thursday took potshots at opposition parties in Jammu and Kashmir, stating that anti-militant operations and NIA raids would continue because “there is no U-turn in the BJP’s fight against terrorism”, Hindustan Times has reported.
This assertion comes a couple of days after the Centre designated former Information Bureau chief Dineshwar Sharma to parley with stakeholders in the Kashmir dispute.
Addressing a well-attended gathering here on the occasion of Accession Day, Singh claimed that there was no “Kashmir issue except taking back Azad Kashmir from Pakistan for which the Indian parliament under the Congress government passed a unanimous resolution in 1994”.
He also sought to clarify on Sharma’s appointment. “Who says that he is an interlocutor?” asked Singh. “Dineshwar Sharma is a representative designated by the Union government to carry forward a sustained dialogue.”
The home ministry’s order also states that Singh has been appointed as “an Indian representative to carry forward a dialogue with elected representatives, various organisations and individuals concerned in the state of Jammu and Kashmir”. A copy of the document is in HT’s possession.
Singh cited the NIA raids on properties belonging to Salahuddin’s son, conducted after Sharma’s appointment, to state that there has been no let-up in the Centre’s fight against terrorism.