Four-pronged plan for Jamp;K: Advani

SRINAGAR, June 24: The Centre is formulating a four-pronged strategy, including a pro-active response to foil militants' plans, to firmly de...

SRINAGAR, June 24: The Centre is formulating a four-pronged strategy, including a pro-active response to foil militants8217; plans, to firmly deal with insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir and to put the State back on the development path, Union Home Minister L K Advani said here today.

At the first-ever inter-ministerial meeting of the Centre and the State governments here, Advani pointed out that the new strategy rests on four pillars of strengthening democratic process in the State, isolating militant groups from the people, pro-active response to effectively neutralise the militants8217; hostile plans and galvanising developmental programmes to impart momentum to the State8217;s economy.

The meeting, attended by Union Ministers George Fernandes, Madan Lal Khurana, P R Kumaramangalam, Nitish Kumar, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdulah and high-ranking Central and State officials, was convened to review the State8217;s security situation and its economic development.

8220;The State8217;s situation is, no doubt, themost critical internal security issue before the Centre whose first priority would be to meet the challenges of militancy and secessionism,8221; he said.

Without naming Pakistan for aiding the militants, Advani told the meeting, held amidst a general strike called by the Hurriyat Conference, 8220;No one should doubt our resolve to bring back lasting peace and normalcy in the State and restart the process of socio-economic development that is long due in the State.8221;

8220;Those who test our determination or our ability to match our words with deeds will find that their misadventures have not only been futile but also costly,8221; Advani declared.

Referring to the killings of minority members, he said the Centre would never allow the 8220;evil designs of religious cleansing hatched by secessionist and their foreign mentors to succeed8221;.

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Last Friday8217;s massacre of 25 people in Doda district was yet another example of this design, he said, adding 8220;as a matter of fact these killers have no religion since their very actof killing goes against the fundamental canons of every religion.8221;