Jammu, May 20: Director General of Police S P Vaid today expressed hope that the Centre’s decision to halt anti-militancy operations in the state during the holy month of Ramazan would have a positive impact on everyone.
Vaid also expressed confidence that the annual pilgrimage to the cave shrine of Amarnath in south Kashmir Himalayas, starting next month, would pass off peacefully.
“I hope this (unilateral ceasefire) initiative of the government of India will have a positive effect on everyone including the forces that are sponsoring terrorism,” the DGP told reporters on the sidelines of a function here.
On May 16, the Centre announced that government forces would not launch any operation in the state during the holy month of Ramazan but they reserved the right to retaliate, if attacked.
Replying to a question on the Amarnath Yatra, the police chief said he was sure that the two-month-long pilgrimma, scheduled to begin on June 28, would pass off peacefully.
“This initiative has been taken in the holy month of Ramazan, and (Amarnath) Yatra is also as auspicious as Ramazan. I am sure it will pass off peacefully,” he said.
He said, “The most important is what Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said yesterday that let the youth join their families and build strong Jammu and Kashmir and strong India.”
Vaid said the holy month of Ramazan is for everyone and “I think Pakistan should also observe it (by giving up violence)”.
On the rejection of the ceasefire initiative by Lashker-e-Taiba (LeT) militant group, he said, “That is their statement…We will do what we feel is correct.” (With PTI inputs)
