Following the killing of the People's Democratic Party MLA Abdul Aziz Mir on Friday, Jammu and Kashmir Finance Minister and PDP vice president Muzaffar Baig said that the healing touch policy of his government is meant for the victims of terrorism and not for the terrorists themselves.
Speaking to rediff.com in New Delhi, Baig said that there was no question of adopting a soft posture towards militants, particularly foreign militants.
"People have misunderstood our healing touch policy. We are giving jobs to the relatives of the victims of the terrorist violence. Our chief minister Mufti saheb has also clarified the position of the government time and again on this issue," Baig added.
He said that those living in Kashmir are more prone to terrorist attacks than those living in Delhi. "Our MLA Abdul Aziz Mir was shot dead. We are determined to fight those who are resorting to violence," he said.
Minister of State for Home Affairs I D Swami said that Mufti Mohammad Sayeed's government should do serious introspection of its policy of providing healing touch in the state in the light of the recent incidents of violence in the state.
"Killing of the People's Democratic Party MLA, slaying of two girls in a village near Jammu, terrorist attack on Raghu Nath Temple are taking place in the heart of the cities, [and these incidents] should force the Mufti government to do some thinking," Swami told rediff.com.
According to him the incidents showed the frustration of the terrorists who are upset with the Mufti government. "It is possible that they might not have liked the kind of statements the chief minister has made in past couple of weeks," he said.
Swami disclosed that after persistent pressure from the union government, the state government has agreed to form a committee to scrutinise the cases of terrorists before they are released.
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