Amit Shah Visits CRPF Camp In J&K's Pulwama, Says ‘We Shouldn't Be Satisfied Till Total Peace Is Achieved’

The Union Home Minister is on a three-day visit to the union territory for the first time since the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019.

ANI Photo

New Delhi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday visited the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) camp in the Lethpora area of the Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district.

It comes on the last day of his three-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir where he reviewed the security situation in the union territory and also met the kin of those who lost their lives in the recent targetted killings of civilians by terrorists.

Speaking at the CRPF camp in Pulwama, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said: "We should not be satisfied till total peace is achieved".

Calling it his "most important" engagement during his visit to the Union territory, he added: "I want to spend one night with you people and understand your problems".

Amit Shah said that the law and order situation has improved a lot in Jammu and Kashmir, adding that he was hopeful "we will be able to realise a peaceful Jammu and Kashmir as envisaged by Prime Minister Modi during our lifetime".

"Stone-pelting incidents are only seen when we try to look for them. There was a time when stone pelting was common in Kashmir. Such incidents have decreased to a huge extent. But, I want to say that there is no need to be satisfied," he added, as quoted by news agency PTI.

The Union Home Minister asserted that the "Narendra Modi government has a zero-tolerance policy towards terrorism. We cannot bear it. It is against humanity. It should be our priority to save the people of Kashmir from the persons who are linked to this heinous crime against humanity".

He also expressed his gratitude to the CRPF and other security forces for ensuring that there was no bloodshed after Article 370 was revoked in August 2019.

"There are many changes that are happening on the development front, in infrastructure, industrial and education sectors because the Army and CRPF are ensuring that all sinister designs are defeated," Amit Shah said.

He recalled that when Articles 370 and 35A were revoked, there were many apprehensions that "there would be a huge reaction".

"It was possible as well, that perhaps there could have been bloodshed, but today I have come here to tell you and tell you freely that because of your alertness not a single shot was fired. It is a huge thing for us. The alertness with which 28,000 jawans and also J-K policemen worked after a major decision was taken in national and J-K's interest, no blood was shed and a new era of development was started in Kashmir," the Home Minister stated.

Its effect is visible in the fact that the Pulwama which was known across the country and the world over for the terror attack on CRPF will now have a medical college to be built at the cost of Rs 2000 crore, he added.

Meanwhile, Amit Shah also had dinner with the soldiers and will stay at the camp tonight.

J&K: Union Home Minister Amit Shah and LG Manoj Sinha had dinner with CRPF personnel at a camp in Lethpora, Pulwama

The Home Minister will stay at the camp tonight pic.twitter.com/ZX9xK3lfQp

— ANI (@ANI) October 25, 2021

Before his visit to the CRPF camp, he witnessed the Shikara Festival at the Dal Lake in Srinagar. Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Union Minister Jitendra Singh were also present with him.

The Home Minister, who is on a three-day visit to the union territory for the first time since the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019, offered prayers at Kheer Bhawani Durga temple in Ganderbal district earlier today.

On Sunday, he visited forward areas at the Makwal border in Jammu and Kashmir with Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and interacted with jawans and local residents. He also met with the delegations of Kashmiri Pandits, Gujjar-Bakarwal community, Pahadi community, and Jammu and Kashmir Chamber of Commerce in Jammu.

On Saturday, Amit Shah met families of soldiers and civilians killed this month in a spate of terrorist attacks in the union territory.

The important visit has come amid several incidents of targetted killings of civilians by the terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir which sparked fear in the valley.

(With Agency Inputs)