Will consider appeal for a unilateral ceasefire during Ramadan, Amarnath Yatra: Rajnath

Lucknow: Issuing a stern warning to stone pelters, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday said the government will deal with them with an iron hand.
The Home Minister said he will consider Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti’s appeal for a unilateral ceasefire during Ramadan and Amarnath Yatra, after reaching New Delhi.
Singh was speaking during the inauguration of non-residential buildings for 125 Battalion of Border Security Force (BSF) at Jaiti Kheda of Mohanlalganj in this capital town of Uttar Pradesh.
He said the death of a Chennai tourist in stone pelting recently, was a very unfortunate incident and that the government was determined to go tough with stone pelters.
”We have a zero tolerance policy on the issue,” he asserted.
On J&K chief minister’s appeal to the Centre to consider a unilateral ceasefire starting from Ramzan in mid-May till the completion of the Amarnath Yatra in August, the Union Minister said while he had not been directly apprised of Ms Mufti’s appeal, he will talk to her about it.
“I have not held direct talks with her on the issue, but I have got this information. I will talk to her after going to New Delhi,” Singh told mediapersons.
Asked about the BJP’s prospects against a united Opposition in the coming bypolls at Kairana (Lok Sabha) and Noorpur (Assembly), Singh said “Despite all parties joining hands, BJP will win both the seats,” he said.
BJP will win the 2019 Lok Sabha elections as the Narendra Modi government has undertaken so many development works that people will not be able to ignore, he added.
“BJP staunchly believes in carrying out developmental works for people and the BJP governments in different states of the country are working on the same lines,” he said. The Union Minister said BJP was set to form government in Karnataka, adding that the party had formed a habit of winning in elections.
The Union Minister said the Opposition failed to raise any issue of corruption, be it Atal-led BJP government or Modi government.
”Our party is clean on every aspect,” he said. The Minister said the BJP led government was performing the best and people are satisfied with party performance. ”The Opposition parties had no issue to put question on our performance and so they are raking up false things against us to deviate people of the country,” he said.
Earlier, Mr Singh inaugurated the BSF campus, which has an Officers’ Mess, a hospital, a quarter guard and other facilities.
He was given guard of honour soon after he reached the BSF campus. He interacted with the jawans and told them the glorious history of the BSF and bravery of its officers and jawans.
He told the jawans that BSF was founded on December 1, 1965 and since then, it was discharging its duty with dedication and commitment.
”Due to its impeccable performance, it has become a synonym of trust in our country,” he said. He informed the government had approved foundation of 261 location points.
On this occasion, the Union Minister met the families of BSF officers/ jawans and also did tree plantation inside the BSF campus.