A central minister visiting a particular state and engaging in inaugurations, etc. may seem regular, and not all such visits may make news. However, Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s visit to J&K, especially for the first time after the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019, won’t go unnoticed! Yes. Mr. Shah is on a three-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir, and with several important programs on his agenda. Here’s more to his awaited J&K visit.
Mr. Shah, who has come to J&K to address critical security-related concerns, was received at the Srinagar airport by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha in the presence of other senior officials.
The Background of the Visit
Mr. Shah’s most significant agenda of the visit is to meet the families of the soldiers and civilians killed earlier this month after terrorist attacks. The attacks claimed the lives of 11 civilians, including Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs and five among which were migrant workers. As a result, these attacks and casualties have led to panic among migrant workers and Kashmiri Pandits, some of which have already left the state.
Mr. Shah held a meeting of the Unified Command to review the situation on the ground. He has reportedly demanded answers to security and intelligence agencies on terror radicalization and infiltration. He also met the family of Inspector Parvaiz Ahmed, who was shot dead by terrorists earlier this year, precisely on June 22, near his home in Nowgam on the outskirts of the city, while returning home after the evening prayers.
Review of the Security Situation
After traveling to Nowgam, Shah reviewed the security situation, along with the measures taken to battle terrorism in Kashmir, especially in view of the recent killings. During his meeting at Raj Bhavan, Mr. Shah was briefed on the anti-terrorism steps taken to finish terrorism from J&K and counter-infiltration measures.
Security Arrangements for Mr. Shah
While tensions are at their peak across the valley, extra precautions have been taken to ensure Mr. Shah’s security. Area within the 20-kilometer radius around Raj Bhavan, where Mr. Shah is going to stay, has been fortified. Drones have been employed to track suspicious movements. Additionally, the CRPF monitored activities on Dal Lake and parts of the Jhelum River that flows through the city’s interiors. Apart from the above, snipers, and sharpshooters have been employed at strategic spots, vehicles arebeing checked, pedestrians are being body-searched.
Other Significant Events
Mr. Shah has a few other crucial programs to attend during his visit to Kashmir. It includes,
- Interaction with the members of the Jammu and Kashmir’s Youth Clubs
- Inaugurate the first direct international flight from Srinagar to Sharjah
- Inaugurate the new campus of Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Jammu
- Address a public rally in the Bhagwati Nagar area
We hope Mr. Shah’s visit to the union territory proves impactful enough for the current situation in Kashmir to improve and that there’s peace established across the valley in the time to come. Besides, the other programs prove commercially and socially beneficial to J&K.
