Jammu, Sep 17
Home Minister Rajnath Singh Monday appealed to political parties to participate in the forthcoming panchayat and urban local body polls in Jammu and Kashmir, in the wake of the NC and the PDP announcing a boycott of the elections.
Singh’s appeal came after the two major regional parties — the National Conference and the Peoples Democratic Party — announced that they would not take part in the elections as the Centre has not cleared its stand on Article 35A of the Constitution.
“I would like to appeal that all the political parties should participate in the political process. This will provide an opportunity to them to interact with the people,” Singh said at a press conference here.
Article 35A was incorporated in the Constitution by a 1954 Presidential Order and accords special rights and privileges to the Jammu and Kashmir citizens.
The Article, which denies property rights to a woman who marries a person from outside the state, has been challenged in the Supreme Court and the matter is still under consideration.
To a question, the home minister said India has made all efforts to improve its relations with Pakistan and cited the impromptu visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to that country to buttress his point.
“We cannot change the behaviour of Pakistan. They will have to understand how to behave with a neighbour,” he said.
When asked whether the two Kashmir-based parties were following separatist agenda and not thinking about the people by boycotting the elections, Singh declined to make a comment.
Earlier, Singh inaugurated two smart fence pilot projects along the Indo-Pak border near here.
“Border security is our top most priority. I am happy to inaugurate two pilot projects under CIBMS (Comprehensive Integrated Border Management System) today.
“We have already identified vulnerable areas and gaps on all borders,” he said.
Singh said the government was working towards upgrading border infrastructure, and more than 600 km roads have been constructed in border areas and hundreds of border out posts have been built.
“Initially the CIBMS project will be implemented to cover gaps in the physical fencing on the border. Subsequently, these technological solution will be implemented on the entire border,” he said.
This is the first time the home minister is visiting the border state after the fall of the PDP-BJP government on June 19, further the visit comes just four days after three Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) terrorists were killed in an encounter at Kakriyal in Reasi district on Thursday.
Today two pilot projects were launched here. Another CIBMS project, covering a 60-km stretch in Assam, will be launched in November. We are dedicating this system to those jawans who sacrificed their lives to safeguard the borders of the country, he said.
He said the CIBMS would cover 2,600 km of vulnerable stretches on the International Border in Jammu and Kashmir and in Assam.
“After the introduction of this technology, our borders will become safer than before. Earlier, our jawans used to remain physically present in harsh conditions, regardless of fog, darkness or stormy conditions. This system will reduce casualties and help de-stress troops who are stationed in border areas for long periods. The need for physical presence will also come down, he said.
