Jammu: Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik Monday said that the state administration will try to create an atmosphere for holding talks with stakeholders in the next four to six months.
“I carry a mandate of (Prime Minister) Narendra Modi to reach out to the people, make yourself available to them, do their work, ensure development of the state and create an atmosphere in which talks can be held,” Malik told reporters at a press conference here.
“If you (media) will give us four to six months, we will try to create an atmosphere in which talks can be held,” he said.
Governor also said that the accused involved in killing senior BJP leader Anil Parihar and his brother in Kishtwar district have been identified and will be brought to book soon.
Bharatiya Janata Party state secretary Anil Parihar, 52, and his brother, Ajeet Parihar, 55, were killed on November 1 by suspected militants when they were walking towards their home in Parihar mohalla at around 8.40 pm.
It has been proved that it was an incident of militancy, he said, adding that it “was an act of frustration on the part of militants and Pakistan”.
“Those people (killers of BJP senior leader and his brother) have been identified. Soon, results will be before you (media),” Malik told reporters after a function at the Civil Secretariat here.
Governor also claimed that stone-pelting and militancy-related incidents have come down in the state.
“Stone-pelting and militancy-related incidents have stopped. The civic polls were also held peacefully. Our policy is bringing us good results,” he said.
“In (the past) three months, only one boy has joined militancy. No other person has joined the militant ranks during this period,” he said after the Guard of Honour at the Civil Secretariat, Jammu, which reopened on Monday after a 10-day break owing to the bi-annual ‘Darbar Move’.
Till July 20, as many as 87 local youths had joined militancy in the state, according to Union Minister Hansraj Gangaram Ahir.
“Eighty-seven youths have joined militancy in 2018 (till July 20) in the four districts of south Kashmir — Anantnag (14), Pulwama (35), Shopian (23), Kulgam (15),” he had said in a written reply in the Lok Sabha.
A high number of 127 young men joined militancy in 2017, a record since 2010, officials said.
In 2016, 88 Kashmiri youths joined militancy, they said.
Asked whether he had failed to bring two regional political parties — the National Conference (NC) and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) — on board for participating in the civic polls, he said they have realised their mistake and will be taking part in the panchayat polls.
