Centre Ended Terrorism In J&K, But Rajouri Encounter, Poonch Attack Raise Concern: Ghulam Azad

Five Army jawans were killed in an explosion triggered by terrorists in the thickly forested Kandi area in Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir during an operation on Friday.

Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP) chief Ghulam Nabi Azad addresses the media, in Jammu

Source : PTI

Former Union minister Ghulam Nabi Azad on Sunday said that terrorism, strikes, and stone pelting in Jammu Kashmir had “ended” after the Bharatiya Janata Party came to power, but also raised concerns after the Friday incident where five Army jawans were killed in Rajouri district in an explosion triggered by terrorists. “There are many things that the centre should not have done here like removing Article 370, it was not in the interest of the people here,” said the Democratic Progressive Azad Party chief. 

“But one good thing (they) did was that terrorism, strikes, and stone pelting had ended,” added the former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister while speaking with reporters. 

#WATCH | There are many things that the centre should not have done here like removing Article 370, it was not in the interest of the people here but one thing is for sure, it has ended terrorism and stone pelting. The incidents that happened in Rajouri, Poonch are a matter of… pic.twitter.com/WDmkDHMTMz

— ANI (@ANI) May 7, 2023

“But since the last two years and since January this year, the incidents that happened in Rajouri and Poonch have been a matter of concern for the entire country and the state,” he said. 

“Rajouri and Poonch do not have uneven terrain and have been under the control of armed forces since 1947 so can't say forces are not present there, so it is a matter of concern.”

The former Congress member said that state police, IB, Army intelligence and paramilitary forces need to remain alert towards increasing incidents of terrorism. 

“People of Jammu and Kashmir also need to remain alert because terrorism will take most of the toll on the people here,” he added. 

“The general public, political parties, state police, state government, central government and forces need to combat something like this together which is not in the interest of the country and its people… terrorism leads towards poverty and uneducation,” he said.