Prez offers olive branch
New Delhi: In a bid to offer an olive branch to various disgruntled elements in Jammu and Kashmir, President of India, Ram Nath Kovind Monday said that the government was ready for a dialogue with anyone who shunned violence and reposed faith in the Constitution.
In his maiden address to the joint sitting of both Houses of Parliament, Kovind also said militant violence in the interiors of Jammu and Kashmir is directly related to cross- border infiltration.
“With better coordination, our Army, Paramilitary forces and Jammu and Kashmir Police are giving a befitting response to the perpetrators,” he said.
The President said security situation in Naxal-affected areas and insurgency-hit Northeastern states has improved significantly.
“My government has kept open the path of dialogue with those who wish to shun violence and join the mainstream, while reposing faith in the Constitution of India,” he said.
The Centre has already appointed a representative, Dineshwar Sharma, to hold dialogue with all stake holders in Jammu and Kashmir.
Kovind said due to regular efforts of the central and state governments, there has been a significant improvement in internal security of the country.
“The Northeast has also witnessed an improvement in the security situation. There has been a reduction in incidents of Naxal-Maoist violence. For this, the enlightened citizens of the region, our military, paramilitary and police forces deserve to be congratulated,” he said.
The president said in the past three years, maximum number of youth influenced by the Naxal-Maoist ideology, have surrendered and joined the main stream.
Paying heartfelt tribute to the martyrs of the security forces, he said the government has also recently sanctioned a scheme of more than Rs 18,000 crore for the modernisation of police forces. (PTI)
KV Correspondent
