Guv in Delhi to discuss road ahead for J&K

Amit Khajuria
Tribune News Service
Jammu, June 15

Governor Satya Pal Malik is on a week-long visit to Delhi to discuss the latest J&K situation with the Central leadership against the backdrop of the renewed designs of Pakistan to disturb peace in the state and also the upcoming Amarnath Yatra and preparations for the much-awaited Assembly polls.

Malik’s visit assumes significance as it comes immediately after his announcement that the Centre was open to dialogue with the people in Kashmir with a specific focus on militants to surrender and live a life in peace.

Sources privy to Governor’s meetings with Home Minister Amit Shah and other leaders said he would also present a picture of threats posed in J&K by Pakistan as was evident by the June 12 terror attack on a CRPF picket in Anantnag.

Five CRPF personnel were killed in the attack, the second biggest after the Pulwama suicide bombing of February 14.

He has already said the Anantnag attack was executed on orders from Pakistan.

The Governor is also expected to present the overall view of the situation and work done by him in the past 10 months and what necessitated his recommendation for the extension of the President’s rule in the state. He will also present his government’s preparations for the Assembly polls in the state as the Election Commission has already committed to announce the schedule after Amarnath Yatra. The pilgrimage to the Himalayan cave shrine of Lord Shiva will conclude on August 15.

The sources said he would share his plan to conduct Amarnath Yatra smoothly this year commencing on July 1. The plans of the deployment of security forces were under way to create a secure environment for the pilgrimage.

Barring one incident of July 2017, the Yatra has been incident-free for the past one decade despite serious law and order situations in 2008, 2010 and 2016.

Malik has also declared that the Yatra will be conducted as smoothly as in the past.

To discuss threat posed by Pak 

• Governor Satya Pal Malik’s visit assumes significance as it comes immediately after his announcement that the Centre was open to dialogue with the people in Kashmir with a specific focus on militants to surrender and live a life in peace.
• The Governor would present a picture of threats posed in J&K by Pakistan as was evident by the June 12 terror attack on a CRPF picket in Anantnag