Pulwama Terror attack

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

Pulwama Terror attack

PM Modi : Sacrifices Shall Not Go In Vain"

Stunned Govt goes into a huddle

Harish Gupta

New Delhi, Feb 14

After a new chapter was written in the history of terror attacks in Jammu & Kashmir, Prime Minister Narendra Modi warned that “the sacrifices shall Not Go In Vain.”

A stunned government went into a huddle after reports of 30 CRPF Jawans were martyred in an unprecedented Fidayeen attack. Such an attack had not taken place in the troubled state during the past 30 years.

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh rushed back to the Capital from Lucknow and went into a huddle with top security officers. Another round will be held in the Prime Minister's Office to review the alarming situation. Rajnath Singh also spoke to the DG, CRPF R R Bhatnagar over the telephone and took stock of the situation.

The National Security Adviser Ajit Doval spoke to Vijay Kumar, Security Adviser to the Jammu & kashmir governor.

What shocked the government was the timing of the attack when the situation in the Valley was looking under control. The year 2018 had been rather successful with only 26 attacks, just half than in 2017.

But it was clear from the PM's statement on twitter which was uploaded three hours after the attack. The PM said, "Attack on CRPF personnel in Pulwama is despicable. I strongly condemn this dastardly attack. The sacrifices of our brave security personnel shall not go in vain. The entire nation stands shoulder to shoulder with the families of the brave martyrs. May the injured recover quickly."

The sacrifices won't go in vain indicates that the Modi government will come down on the terror groups and their patrons with a heavy hand sooner than expected.

Rajnath Singh is likely to visit Srinagar tomorrow and Cabinet Committee on Security will meet shortly too, say sources.

Vijay Kumar conveyed to the NSA that there was “no specific and actionable intelligence” about the incident.

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Abhinandan Back, Its Azhar's turn now

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

Abhinandan Back, Its Azhar's turn now

Modi Mounts Pressure on Imran to act

India Isolating Pakistan globally

Harish Gupta

New Delhi, March 1

With Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman back in the country, India has launched a three-pronged attack on Pakistan to ensure that Azhar Masood is arrested and prosecuted for terror attacks in India. Since Azhar Masood has already owned up responsibility for the killing of 40 CRPF jawans in Pulwaha in J&K on February 14, Prime Minister Modi has seized this opportunity to force Pakistan to act.

If he persuaded France to move the resolution in UN Security Council to declare Azhar Masood as global terrorist with the support of UK & USA, efforts are on to persuade China not to veto it this time when it comes up in the next 10 working days. India has conveyed to China that it has withstood pressures from even Sangh Parivar to shun Chinese goods and ban Huawei like the USA has done.

It was a feather in Modi's cap that Organization of Islamic Countries (OIC) stood firm in inviting India ignoring threat from Pakistan to boycott. Sushma Swaraj won hearts of 47 countries by her passionate speech and informed them India has 18.5 crores Muslim brothers and sisters who are microcosm of the diversity in India. Of course, she urged the OIC to “act together and stand together to combat global terrorism” without naming Pakistan.

India is also working hard with the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) to bring Pakistan in the ‘grey list’ from June at its next meeting. Pakistan is already on the watch list.

Highly placed sources in the government say that

India is set to reject Pakistan PM Imran Khan's offer for a joint probe into Pulwama attacks. India has conveyed to the world that nothing came out after it allowed Paki investigators to visit Pathankot airbase after the attack. India has made it clear that intelligence dossiers against those responsible for Pulwama and their perpetrators have already been handed over to Pakistan and shared the same with world powers. The Pakistan Minister has already said that Azhar Masood is in Pakistan. Therefore, its for Pakistan to act against him immediately if it wants peace process to begin. In any case, this being the election time, the ruling establishment in India would not lower its guard.

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Centre rushes to quell unrest against Kashmiris outside J&K

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

Centre rushes to quell unrest against Kashmiris outside J&K

Harish Gupta

New Delhi, Feb 18

The Modi government is worried over growing cases of threats, intimidation and uncontrollable anger in educational institutions across the country in the aftermath of Pulwama terror attack.

The Centre has twin problems in hand; It is to ensure the safety of students from Kashmir following a backlash against them and also punish elements in universities who are raising anti-India slogans.

While the Ministry of Human Resource Development has not directly written any advisory to the Universities or directed the UGC to do so, the Ministry of Home Affairs has cautioned states to maintain law and order in their respective territories.

The Home Ministry issued the advisory after students and other residents experienced threats and intimidation. The most serious incidents were reported from Dehradun and Ambala, both ruled by the BJP.

The CRPF and Jammu and Kashmir police has even opened a helpline and a students’ organisation set up a temporary camp in Mohali to accommodate at least 20 young men and women who had left Dehradun and Ambala after facing threats.

Several special teams have been deployed to monitor trolling on social media specifically targeting Kashmiri students and people of Kahmiri origin living outside J&K. Several state governments have also issued advisory to residents to be careful and avoid moving around.

The PMO is also worried as more than 20,000 Kashmiri students are studying outside the state. Around 8,000 students – belonging to Jammu, Leh and Kashmir regions – are part of the Prime Minister’s Special Scholarship Scheme (PMSSS). This scheme is meant for students from Jammu and Kashmir.

The PMSSS covers a certain number of colleges and universities that are spread across Delhi, Pune, Udaipur, Haryana and other areas.

A handful of institutions even suspended some Kashmiri students who shared objectionable comments on social media.

According to officials, while there have been no complaints from students studying at universities covered under the PMSSS so far.

The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting has told private satellite TV channels to broadcast content strictly in adherence to the Program and Advertising Code as prescribed in the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act 1995 and the Rules framed there under. The channels have been told not to show content which is likely to encourage or incite violence or contains anything against maintenance of law and order or which promotes anti-national attitudes, and or (ii) contains anything affecting the integrity of the nation.

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