Mehbooba’s ‘local militants’ remark riles BJP leaders

Dinesh Manhtora

Tribune News Service

Jammu, October 22

After launching a veiled attack on the PDP for trying to divide the Jammu region on “communal” lines, the BJP today opposed the suggestion of Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti to the police and the security forces to deal with “local militants” with compassion.

“Drawing a line to differentiate a local militant and one from a foreign land does not matter as both are doing same activity and no country can accept it as a forgiving mistake. Taking up gun against the nation is something no country can accept and people involved have to be dealt as the law of land demands,” BJP spokesman Arun Gupta said today.

The Chief Minister while addressing a function at Srinagar on Friday urged the police and the security forces to “hand-hold the misadvised youth, who have joined militancy or are indulging in violence, with compassion.” She said such youth should be a given a chance to return to their families and live normal lives. “They can also be provided counselling on how to make a new beginning in their lives,” she said, adding, “these are all our children who have been misguided and have fallen prey to the unfortunate circumstances and need more of parenting rather than policing.”

Already the BJP is annoyed with PDP ministers for repeatedly using the terms Pir Panjal and Chenab Valley for the Muslim majority areas of the Jammu province.

Kashmir-centric parties are using term Pir Panjal for twin border districts of Poonch and Rajouri and Chenab Valley for erstwhile Doda district comprising Doda, Ramban and Kishtwar districts. The BJP and other pro-Jammu parities are opposed to the use of such terms for hilly areas of the Jammu province as they smell a conspiracy to divide this region on communal lines.

Although the BJP has repeatedly opposed the use of these terms, such mentions can be found on official handouts. A couple of days ago, an official handout used the term Pir Panjal for Poonch and Rajouri.