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Hardeep Singh Bedi
New Delhi: The Union Government on July 19, 2022, said that terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir have been declining since 2018.
In a written reply to a question asked by Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) MP Avinashi Ganeshamurthi, Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai informed the Lok Sabha that there has been a substantial decline in terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir.
“The Government has a policy of zero tolerance against terrorism and the security situation has improved significantly in J&K. There has been a substantial decline in terrorist attacks from 417 in 2018 to 229 in 2021,” the Minister said.
Rai informed the House that a total of 78 civilians lost their lives and 104 security force personnel were martyred in a total of 473 terror incidents in 2020 and 2021.
The reply states that 37 civilians were killed and 112 were injured, 62 security force personnel were martyred and 106 were injured in 244 terror incidents in 2020.
In 2021, there was a decline in terror attacks as well as casualties of the security force personnel but the year recorded a slight increase in civilian deaths in comparison to 2020.
“Forty-one civilians were killed and 75 were injured, 42 security force personnel were martyred and 117 were injured in 229 terror incidents in 2021,” Rai said.
The Minister also outlined various initiatives of the Union Government to bring normalcy in the Kashmir Valley.
“The Government has taken various measures to normalize the situation in the Kashmir valley. These include robust security and intelligence grid, proactive operations against terrorists, intensified night patrolling and checking at Nakas, security arrangements through appropriate deployment, and high level of alertness maintained by the security forces,” the MoS Home said.
4.5 Lakh jobs in offing
Nityanand Rai also said that the Union Government has taken several steps like PMDP 2015, the establishment of IIT & IIM, two new AIIMS, fast-tracking of infrastructure projects in roads, power, etcetera for all-round development of Jammu and Kashmir.
He also informed the Lok Sabha that a new Central Scheme is being implemented for the industrial development of J&K with an outlay of Rs. 28,400 crore that would provide employment to 4.5 lakh persons.
Elections in J&K
DMK MP Ganeshamurthi also wanted to know when the situation in J&K would be brought to normal to start the democratic process in the Union Territory.
Replying to this, Rai said the decision to schedule elections in Jammu and Kashmir is the prerogative of the Election Commission of India but the minister outlined the steps being taken to start the democratic process in J&K.
The Government had set up a delimitation Commission, which has notified Orders on 14th March 2022 and 5th May 2022 on the delimitation of Parliamentary and Legislative Assembly Constituencies of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. Thereafter, the Election Commission of India initiated the revision of electoral rolls of voters of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, Rai said.
He added that the decision to schedule elections is the prerogative of the Election Commission of India. (PW News)
