New Delhi, October 27

Separatism in Jammu and Kashmir is more out of convenience rather than conviction and the children of separatists are enjoying while those of common people are suffering, Union Minister Jitendra Singh has said.

The Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said terrorism in the Valley was mercenary in nature and was not driven by any conviction, ideology or motivation.

“It is paid terrorism perpetrated, funded and sponsored by hostile powers which all of us know,” Singh said in an apparent reference to Pakistan.

“There is no such issue as Kashmir issue. Jammu and Kashmir is a part of the Indian union very much like other states,” he said. Singh said if at all there was any issue pertaining to Jammu and Kashmir, it was to retrieve Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and restore the original culture and demographic character of the state, “which would be possible only by the return of the displaced Kashmiri Pandit community”.

“Separatists stand exposed. Separatism in Kashmir is more out of convenience rather than conviction, which is not easily palatable but it is a fact,” Singh said at an event here last night.

He also came down heavily on mainstream politicians for practising what he described as “opportunistic separatism”.

Speaking at the event, Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik said for the last 50 years, the political leadership in the state had only made false promises to the people. “Be it the promise of freedom, freedom with Pakistan’s help or autonomy,” he said.

The Governor said the need of the hour was to tell people that armed struggle was not the solution. “The policy of healing touch is needed, but what is needed more is development and removing corruption and unemployment,” he added.

“I don’t have the mandate for a dialogue. It’s with the Prime Minister and with the political parties and other stakeholders,” he said.

Malik also said a litany of lies was being propagated about the situation in Kashmir, which in reality was not that bad.

“More people die in Bihar and UP than the number of casualties that take place in Kashmir,” he said. — PTI

On Hurriyat

The problem with Hurriyat is that they can’t even go to the toilet without Pakistan. They want to include Pakistan in everything. I have made it clear that we won’t have anything to do with Pakistan in Kashmir. —Satya Pal Malik, J&K Governor

On freedom model

The separatists’ freedom model is fake. It is a model that follows the pattern of getting the neighbours’ children to become jihadis and lodging your own children in safe havens. —Jitendra Singh, MOS, PMO

On stone-pelters

Stone-pelters are nothing but overground workers of terror outfits. I still say the same… if they can kill people with such acts, are they not becoming like terrorists?  —Gen Bipin Rawat, Army Chief