Union Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has issued a stern warning to terrorists and stone pelters. She has stated that there will be no respite for anti-India forces even during the fasting month of Ramzan and the Amarnath yatra. This has come in the backdrop of insidious comments made by Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti suggesting that the Centre should announce a unilateral ceasefire against the terrorists active in the valley in light of the Ramzan month ending with the Amarnath yatra. Had her demands been accepted it would have abruptly hampered the crusade of the Indian army and the security forcing against the anti-state elements and terrorists active in the valley. For a moment, this appeal had cheered up terrorist sympathisers who have been ardently supporting the human rights of inhumane terrorists.
However, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has dashed all hopes of terror sympathisers and apologists by announcing that there will be no such ceasefire. Indian army will take on terrorists with the same ferociousness during the Ramzan month as it has been doing in the recent past. She has also made it clear that there will be no let up on terror. The Indian Army will go after terrorism with all its might. She stated that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India and the Indian Army is tasked with eliminating terror in the region. She further added that that Indian Army has to firmly handle terrorism which threatens the peace and harmony of Jammu and Kashmir as well as the rest of the country.
As per reports, the BJP has condemned the irresponsible remarks made by Mehbooba Mufti. It has in unequivocal terms rejected this remark. Even the Chief of Army staff, General Bipin Rawat was appalled by the politicisation of the entire issue by the Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti.
With this statement Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has made it clear that fighting terror and bringing peace to the valley is the topmost priority of the government. The suggestion of allowing terrorism to foster during Ramzan is bizzare and makes no sense. Terrorism and extremism cannot be allowed to foster in the garb of religion. In fact, those who claim that terrorists do not have any religion have no right to defend terrorists in the garb of religion. Those who claim that a unilateral ceasefire will ensure peace and harmony must get rid of such misunderstandings and delusions. It is not the army but the terrorists who disrupt peace in the valley. Army action is the only way of dealing with such disruptive elements. As opposed to the suggestion made by Mehbooba Mufti, the Indian Army should up the ante during the Ramzan month in order to make sure that no untoward incident takes place in the said period. The month of Ramzan is a critical period when terrorists might try to appeal to the sentiments of peace loving and law abiding citizens to win public opinion in the state and persuade people into supporting their “cause”. It will be a testing time for our men who should be categorically given a free hand to tackle terrorism and religious extremism during the period of Ramzan instead of making them vulnerable and helpless by announcing a unilateral ceasefire.