Srinagar, July 23 (JKNS): Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday said that terrorism cannot be defeated through bulldozers or mass arrests alone, asserting that the support of the people is essential for restoring lasting peace in the Union Territory.
Speaking to reporters in Srinagar, CM Omar Abdullah, as per news agency JKNS, said while security forces can tackle terrorism to a certain extent, its complete eradication is only possible when the people themselves stand against it.
“We will not be able to improve the situation by demolishing houses or arresting thousands of people. The situation will only get worse. Terrorism cannot end without the support of the people,” he said.
Referring to the recent Anantnag terror attack in which Head Constable Ashiq Hussain Qureshi was martyred, Omar said people across Jammu and Kashmir were angry over the killing, but cautioned against measures that could alienate the public.
“People are angry over the brutal killing of the police head constable. But when thousands of people are detained, that anger gets redirected. We must take our people along in this fight; only then will we succeed,” he said.
Commenting on the demolition of houses belonging to alleged militants in Anantnag, the Chief Minister said such actions go against the spirit of the Supreme Court’s directions.
He recalled that similar demolitions were halted after the Pahalgam attack when subsequent investigations found that the attackers had come from outside Jammu and Kashmir.
On the issue of alleged paper leaks and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s announcement of fast-track courts, Omar welcomed the acknowledgement that the concerns of youth deserve attention.
“It is a good thing that the Prime Minister has said youth are important. Now the government should sit with them, talk to them and address their concerns instead of ignoring them,” he said.
The Chief Minister also responded to Union Minister J.P. Nadda’s remarks regarding paper leak incidents in Jammu and Kashmir, saying investigations had already been conducted and the matter was with the CBI.
Speaking on entrepreneurship, Omar said the government is working to build a strong startup ecosystem in Jammu and Kashmir through seed capital schemes, incubators and the Ascent programme.
“We are trying to double the number of startups every year. Good ideas are emerging from sectors like agriculture, horticulture and renewable energy, and we want to support them,” he said.
Responding to a question on environmental challenges, Omar said recurring heavy rainfall and cloudbursts have become a serious concern for Jammu and Kashmir.
He said while the recent rains did not lead to major flooding in rivers, damage was reported in areas such as Beerwah in Budgam, where several shops were washed away.
“We cannot stop the rain, but we need a comprehensive long-term plan to protect our infrastructure from such disasters,” he added. (JKNS)