PAKISTAN MUST STOP CROSS BORDER TERRORISM -
FERNANDES
The Defence Minister
Shri George Fernandes has said that Pakistan should make drastic
changes in its policies towards India before the dialogue process
between the two countries begins. In his message to the Armed
Forces on the eve of Independence Day, the Defence Minister stated
that Pakistan should desist from abetting and supporting cross-border
terrorism in Jammu & Kashmir and other parts of India. The
Minister said that Pakistan has to close down the terrorist training
camps situated in its territory and stop the infiltration forthwith.
He said that the country has lost 50,000 people in the proxy war
with Pakistan during the last twelve years. Shri Fernandes also
asked Pakistan to hand over the twenty terrorists and hoped that
General Musharraf will fulfill the assurances given by him in
his address on January 12th and May 27th
this year.
Referring
to the terrorist attacks in J&K assembly, Parliament, Kaluchak,
Jammu and Amarnath, the Minister reiterated India’s resolve to
eradicate terrorism.
Speaking about
various welfare measures taken by the Government, the Minister
said that a monitoring process has been put in place under the
Chairmanship of a senior official to look into the pension related
complaints of armed forces personnel. The Defence Minister said
that the Prime Minister has announced a grant of Rs 16,000 crore
to solve the housing problems of service personnel within the
next four years. Referring to the allotment of petrol pumps, LPG
and kerosene agencies to the next of kin of the gallantry award
winners and war widows Shri Fernandes informed that about 400
out of 446 such applicants have already been allotted.
Shri Fernandes
further added that a Committee has been set up under the Chairmanship
of the Defence Minister to prepare a similar welfare policy for
jawans and ex-servicemen. He said the Directorate General
Resettlement has several schemes to provide employment /self-employment
opportunities to ex-servicemen. The Minister commended the role
of 1.5 lakh Nepali Gorkhas who have earlier served the Indian
Armed Forces have now gone back to Nepal. The Government has set
up an Indian ex-servicemen welfare organisation for them in Nepal
and Sixteen such District Sainik Boards have been set up all over
Nepal for this purpose he said.
The
Defence Minister complimented the armed forces for their role
in rescue operations during floods, earthquakes and other natural
calamities. Referring to the increasing requests for Indian contingent
in various UN peacekeeping missions abroad he said that it is
the bonhomie of the Indian soldier that makes him much sought
after.
The Minister conveyed
the gratitude of the countrymen to the armed forces personnel
who defend the country in most inhospitable terrains and lay down
their lives in the service of the nation. The Defence Minister
also complimented the role of the National Cadet Corps, Territorial
Army, Border Roads Organisation, Coast Guard, Rashtriya Rifles
and other inter-service organizations.
Shri Fernandes
said that it has always been his endeavour to go and personally
meet the Jawans posted all over the country so that he could participate
in their moments of joy and look into their grievances.
