JAMMU: Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah on Tuesday said that talks are only way forward to resolve issues adding that border skirmishes have always made the lives of people living there miserable and difficult. He said the inhabitants of LOC and Borders have to bear the brunt of firing and shelling and their life and property is endangered by such incidents. He said the State of Jammu and Kashmir is greatly and commonly affected by such incidents.
Omar Abdullah said that peace and tranquillity on Borders is equally important for both the neighbours maintaining that the authorities across the Border should understand this need and help in creating calm at the LOC and Borders. He said the people of Border areas have to bear the pain of the gun fire. He said their lives; property and economy get severely affected and endangered by shelling and firing.
The Chief Minister said that people living in the frontiers want peace to carry on the life process smoothly. “We do not subscribe to war but are in favour of resolving the issues through talks and in a peaceful manner”, he added.
The Chief Minister today visited forward areas in Jammu where the inhabitants were affected by the shelling from across the Border.
The Chief Minister while interacting with the affected families at Joia, Trewa, Saikalan, Jora, Jabowal, Jangian and various other places in the Border area in R. S. Pora and Bishnah sectors, announced three months free ration for those who had to leave their homes for shelter due to shelling and whose agricultural operation has come to stand still due to firing. He said that the State Government has taken all measures to provide necessary relief to them as also safeguarding their lives. “We are with you at this hour of need”, he told them adding that the State Administration is fully geared up to be at your help. He said that he has given directions to all concerned agencies to do all that is possible to safeguard and help the Border people in the situation of shelling and firing from across the Line of Control and Borders.
The Chief Minister said that the issues of giving benefit of SRO 43 to the shelling affected Border people and compensation for acquisition of their land will be discussed in the Cabinet. He said that the loss of precious lives in the Border firing though cannot be compensated yet he wants the bereaved families should get the benefit of SRO 43, as such; he would take all necessary measures in this regard.
The Chief Minister said that State Government has already taken up the issue of construction of bunkers in the Border areas and establishment of shelter places in nearby areas for the people who are generally affected by the shelling from across the Border and had to leave the their homes for safety. He said the file in this regard is pending at the Centre Government and the State Government would again take up the matter with the Union Home Minister, Rajnath Singh during his upcoming visit to Jammu and Kashmir so that this long pending demand of the State is agreed to.
Omar Abdullah was accompanied by Minister of State for Home, Sajjad Ahmad Kitchloo and MLC Devender Singh Rana.
