Rising infiltration a concern: Antony

Antony said the recent spate of infiltration bids showed that there was no room for complacency in Jammu and Kashmir. He said militants were also frustrated over the peaceful conduct of the annual Amarnath Yatra due to efforts of the Armed Forces.

In a veiled reference to calls for withdrawal of troops from Kashmir,Antony said no decision regarding the state can be taken in a hasty manner as eternal vigilance is needed. Antony also said the setting up of a war memorial for soldiers who had died in post-Independence battles was a top priority of the government and the special Group of Ministers GoM instituted into the matter would resolve the land issue at the earliest. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had appointed the GoM headed by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee to resolve the issue of suitable land for the war memorial earlier this week.

The proposal has been hanging fire for several years for want of a suitable location.