16 THE WEEK • JULY 14, 2019
CURRENT EVENTS
JAMMU & KASHMIRHOME MINISTER Amit Shah’s
visit to Jammu and Kashmir on June
27—his first to a state after swearing
in—was unique in many ways. He
became the first Union minister to
visit the family of a slain Kashmiri
police officer, did not meet leaders
of the regional parties, and restricted
his trip to the Kashmir region only.
Moreover, for the first time, the
separatists did not call for a strike,
like they had in the past when Cen-
tral leaders visited the state.
Top officers of the police, the
Central Reserve Police Force and
the Army briefed Shah about the
security situation, operations against
militants, the situation at the Line of
Control, and security arrangements
made for the 45-day annual Amar-
nath yatra.
According to sources, the yatra,
which started on July 1, figured
prominently in the meeting. In addi-
tion to police and other forces, 30,
CRPF men have been deployed for
the pilgrimage. Moreover, arrange-
ments have been made for satellite-
and chip-based tracking of pilgrims’
vehicles to keep them on the radar of
security agencies. At the registrationcounters, pilgrims would be given
microchip-embedded wristbands
that are connected to satellite towers
installed at various locations. About
200 CCTV cameras have also been
installed at the base camps and at
vulnerable points, including some
spots on highways.
After the security briefing, Shah
met the core group of state BJP
leaders, and panchs and sarpanchs
affiliated with the party. Anil Sharma,
president of the All Jammu and Kash-
mir Panchayat Conference, told THE
WEEK that they had a detailed dis-
cussion with Shah and put forward
certain demands. “We demanded a
separate election and financial com-
mission for the panchayats,” he said.
“We urged the home minister to en-
sure elections in block development
commissions and empowerment of
the panchayats.”
They also urged Shah to provide
a minimum of 0 25 lakh for develop-
mental works in the panchayats in
their constituencies. “We demanded
that the four seats that are reserved
for panchayat members in legislative
councils be filled as those who were
nominated last time have complet-ed their terms,” added Sharma. He
said he also told Shah that all this
would hugely benefit the party in the
assembly elections.
The BJP’s state in-charge Avinash
Rai Khanna, who was camping in
Kashmir, said the party was looking
at a 20 per cent increase in its mem-
bership in the state, especially in
Kashmir. Khanna said Shah met state
leaders and workers and urged them
to strengthen the party. He said theOn his maiden trip to Kashmir as home
minister, Amit Shah outlines the BJP’s
plans for the valleyBY TARIQ BHAT
Homing in
on Kashmir