Mufti soft on separatists, BJP-PDP coalition a blunder: Bitta

Accusing J&K Chief Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed for being "soft on separatists", All India Anti-Terrorist Front (AIATF) chief M S Bitta today hit out at BJP for committing a "blunder" by entering into a coalition with PDP in the state.
"Mufti Mohammed Sayeed is soft on separatists. Since he took over as the chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir, the incidents of hoisting of Pakistani flags in Kashmir have increased manifolds. The BJP must reconsider its decision of continuing ties with the PDP," Bitta told reporters here.
He said that BJP did a "blunder" by joining hands with the PDP and there was ample time to rectify the mistake.

Bitta was in the state to facilitate Vikramjeet and Rakesh Sharma of Udhampur district who nabbed the Pakistani terrorist Naved and handed him over to the police recently.
While appreciating the former chief minister Omar Abdullah and his father Farooq Abdullah, Bitta said, "They (Omar and Farooq) were secular and nationalist and were tough on separatists."
The AIATF chief hailed the role of village defense committees in tackling militancy related incidents. He advocated that similar force be raised in other parts of the country as well which are plagued by militancy.

When asked to comment on the upcoming NSA level talks between India and Pakistan, Bitta said that until and unless Pakistan does not stop sponsoring terrorism in India, no talks must be held with the neighboring country.

"India must not indulge in any talks with Pakistan and should not only call off the NSA level talks but also snap the cricketing ties with Pakistan until and unless Pakistan stops sponsoring terrorism from its soil", he said.
On a question regarding India's response to the ongoing ceasefire violations in the state, Bitta said that India was giving a befitting reply to Pakistan.
"During the UPA tenure the response was not that strong but now when they fire one bullet we reply with hundreds of bullets", he said.
On the recent terrorist attack in the Dina Nagar town in Punjab, Bitta said that it was the dual responsibility of the Centre and the state government to fight the menace of terrorism in any part of the country.

"Terrorist is a terrorist, irrespective of his religion or race. They must be punished as per the law of the land", he said.
Bitta said that there was the need to hire good lawyers to fight the 1984 anti-Sikh riots case and the perpetrators of the crime must be punished as per the law.
He also urged the union government to appoint a proactive Governor in Jammu and Kashmir who can handle the situation and end militancy in the state.
He added that BJP must fulfil its poll promise of the abrogation of article 370 in the state.