Srinagar: Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman reached Jammu and Kashmir on Friday for a two-day visit to take stock of the security situation and review preparedness of soldiers at the border. Defence Minister also called on Governor N N Vohra and Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and discussed issues concerning internal and external security and other related matters with them.
Sitharaman was received by Northern Army Commander and the Chinar Corps Commander at the Old Airfield. She is also expected to visit Siachen on September 30. Later in the day, she visited a forward post on the Line of Control in Kashmir. During her visit, she is expected to meet senior commanders as well. This will be Nirmala Sitharaman’s first visit to the state after she assumed office as the Defence Minister earlier this month.
Nirmala Sitharaman, the visiting Defence Minister, held hour long discussions with Governor N.N. Vohra at the Raj Bhavan here Friday. Accompanied by Chief of Army Staff, Genl. Bipin Rawat, she was received by the Governor on her arrival at the Raj Bhavan.
Governor and Sitharaman discussed several important inter-related issues concerning effective management of internal and external security, particularly in the context of increasing attempts at infiltration, the ongoing anti-terrorist operations, and sustained terrorist attacks on Security Forces personnel in the Valley.
Among the various matters discussed with the Raksha Mantri, Governor stressed the crucial need for urgent enlargement of BRO and very significant strengthening of its resources for ensuring the maintenance of vital road networks and strategic connectivities in J&K, particularly in the Ladakh region. Governor also sought Sitharaman’s personal intervention for the return of certain pockets of land to the State Government which were no longer required for military purposes, about which he had earlier held meetings with former Army Chief and Raksha Mantri.
Governor informed Raksha Mantri that despite the increasing activities along the IB and LoC the officers and men of the Northern Army, particularly of the Chinar Corps, had been discharging their duties with exceptional devotion, under very difficult circumstances. He also lauded the Northern Army’s working in total coordination with the Civil Administration, State Police and Central Armed Forces.
Defence Minister also called on the Chief Minister here Friday evening. The two leaders discussed several strategic issues related to prevailing situation in the State during the meeting.
The Chief Minister pressed for speeding up the cases of land vacation by the Army in various parts of the State and release of rent dues in favour of owners whose land is in possession of the Army. She sought intervention of the Defence Minister for the return of certain pockets of land in the State which are no longer required for operational purposes by the Army and about which consensus has already been arrived between State Government and the Defence Ministry.
Mehbooba Mufti also raised with the Defence Minister pacing up of work on some important roads in the State being constructed by the Border Roads Organisation like four lanning of Srinagar- Baramulla –Uri road, Rajouri- Thanamandi- Surankote road, four lanning of Akhnoor- Poonch road, Reasi- Arnas – Mahore road, Turtuk – Hanuthang. She also pitched for construction of tunnels at Razdan pass on Bandipore- Gurez road and Sadhna pass on Kupwara-Tanghdar road.
The Chief Minister also flagged the idea of opening areas like Battalik, Siachin base and other areas for tourist activities including trekking, mountain biking etc.
Nirmala Sitharaman assured Mehbooba Mufti to look into the issues raised by her in a time bound manner.
Army Chief, Gen. Bipin Rawat; Principal Secretary, Home, R. K. Goyal; Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, Rohit Kansal and other senior officers of State and Central Governments were present on the occasion.
