Indian Army Forced To Train J&K Soldiers In Other States: Thousands of men in fatigues can be seen swarming into the Jammu Tawi railway station these days. Thesesoldiers are not there to counter any fresh terrorist threats or challenges of infiltration up north, but to board special trains bound for Madhya Pradesh or Rajasthan where they will get to practise firing.

With the Mufti Mohammad Sayeedheaded Jammu & Kashmir government dragging its feet on renotifying the lease of firing ranges, the Indian Army is forced to send the soldiers long distances to other states. According to senior officers, this has an adverse impact on India’s preparedness along the borders.

There are ten firing ranges in J& K, but the PDP-BJP government has refused to renotify all the leases that have lapsed in the past one year. As a result, the northern command, which has the largest number of troops in the country, is sending hundreds of units from live borders to faraway states for annual firing practice.

The troops are away from their stations for more than a month as the units are being sent to the ranges of Babina and Mahajan in UP and Rajasthan respectively, by a combination of rail and roads. J&K chief secretary Iqbal Khanday said the delay was procedural. “Each firing range in the state is being looked at separately. The cases are at different stages,” Khanday told ET.

The firing ranges leased to the army are Khurbathang, Tartar, Mahe and Kulum in the Ladakh region, Kalith, Chorkhud, Jhallas Rajouri and Garhi in the Jammu region and Tosamaidan in the Kashmir region. Khurbathang, Kalith and Tosamaidan are the three main ranges for the firing of artillery and high calibre weapons.

For Tosamaidan firing range, Khanday said a committee was formed under his chairmanship but it is yet to decide on the matter. In Ladakh, the army has already specified a different location as the current firing range extended to sensitive wildlife areas.

“We are also holding public hearings in Jammu region to know about the opinion of locals regarding firing ranges,” the chief secretary said. Senior officers said the defence ministry has also taken up the matter with the state government.

Befitting reply along LoC, IB sent Pak running to UN: Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday said India’s response to cross-border firing along the international border and LoC in Jammu & Kashmir was so strong that it sent Pakistan scurrying to the UN seeking intervention.

Speaking to reporters in Kolkata on the occasion of the first anniversary of the Modi government, Singh said, “When there were cross-border firings during the UPA regime, white flags were shown. But, we gave Pakistan such strong reply that they had to appeal to the UN to intervene.”

About alleged display of Pakistan flags in Kashmir recently, Singh said, “We will not allow anyone to shout ‘Pakistan zindabad’ slogans in this country.”

He stressed that Article 370 of the Constitution, that grants special status to Jammu & Kashmir, is on BJP’s agenda.

“However, for the first time BJP has got the chance to be part of a state government in J&K. Let there be development. Whatever we do, we will do it by taking the people of J&K in confidence,” said Singh.

About rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandits, he said, “We have allocated funds for their rehabilitation. We have already spoken to the J&K chief minister. He told us that land will be provided.”

Commenting on the recent controversy about 1993 Mumbai blast mastermind Dawood Ibrahim where the Centre had said it had no idea where the don was, Singh said, “On Dawood, I will only say we have not shut our eyes on him. However, there international compulsion, too.”

Amid the continuing tussle between the Centre and the AAP-led Delhi government, Singh assured there would be no interference and that everyone should work within the constitutional framework.

Singh’s comments assume significance, especially, after the AAP government moved a resolution in the Assembly against the Modi government’s notification giving “absolute” powers to the Lt governor on posting of senior bureaucrats and restraining the anti-corruption bureau from probing central government employees. Delhi deputy CM Manish Sisodia said the Centre’s notification violated the Constitution.

Singh said, “Everybody should work within the constitutional provisions. And, I would like to add that Delhi government has been elected by the people and the central government will not create any hurdles in the functioning of Delhi government. We will fully cooperate with them.”

Singh said the Narendra Modi government believes in constructive and cooperative federalism.

At a rally in Kolkata, Singh defended Modi’s foreign trips. “A lot of things are said about Narendra Modi’s foreign visits. I will request my friends in the media to look into the number of foreign visits of other PMs and Modiji, and you will see the difference,” said Singh.

He said when then PM Manmohan Singh visited foreign countries, there was nothing which was either new or worthy of attention. “But during Modiji’s visit to foreign nations, whether its Madison Square Garden in the US or Australia, lakhs of people came out to welcome him,” said Singh.

He advised Congress leaders and workers to feel proud as Indians instead of criticising Modi’s visit. Singh also mocked Rahul Gandhi’s “sabbatical”. “Modiji went to foreign nations for to attract investments and for the country’s sake. He did not go to foreign country to enjoy holidays,” said Singh.

Source: TOI