Not All Youths in Kashmir Want ‘Azadi’: Union Minister VK Singh

“Kashmir is an issue of proxy war. It’s an issue for which things should’ve been done earlier,” VK Singh said.

Minister of State for External Affairs VK Singh. 

(Photo: PTI)

Union Minister of State for External Affairs and former Army chief General VK Singh said on Monday, 18 February, that some youngsters in Kashmir who are paid to throw stones and shout anti-India slogans do not represent the views of the entire Valley.

“Some youth is being paid to throw stones. Some youth standing on the top of a vehicle and shouting ‘Hum kya chahte? Azadi (What do we want? Freedom)’ does not reflect the sentiment of the entire youth of Kashmir (sic),” Singh said, days after the Pulwama attack, reported ANI.

“A great amount of work is being done out there, yes, more can be done,” the Union minister said in reference to the work being done for youngsters in the state.

“Youth has been engaged earlier also and will be engaged in future also. There are many things required to be done in Kashmir and there are many being done. I'm positive that the government is ensuring that this issue is looked at very seriously,” Singh said.

‘Kashmir is a Proxy War’

The former Army chief also said that the “Kashmir issue” does not have a simple resolution.

“It's an issue of proxy war. It's an issue for which things should've been done earlier. Don't judge success or failure of a policy based on one incident. There was an encounter, where an officer and three jawans died, doesn't mean the situation is bad,” he said.

Singh further claimed that the conflict in south Kashmir had intensified after 2012 and requires analysis on a policy level.

“This very same south Kashmir was very peaceful from 2005-2012. What’s the reason for the surge in incidents there after 2012? Have you analysed this? Why did this happen?”

General VK Singh, Union Minister, as told to ANI

“A coalition government came later; where one party had greater support in Valley, another had greater support in Jammu. It's necessary to analyse policies of the former. It should be seen if policies were an overall failure or mistakes of a few gave a boost terrorists,” Singh said.

Singh also said that the abolition of Article 370 needed support from all political parties.

Earlier in the day, Singh had launched BJP's 'Bharat Ke Mann Ki Baat, Modi Ke Saath' campaign in Himachal Pradesh.

(With inputs from ANI)