Union Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi on Wednesday raised objection to the terms “Hindu terror” or “saffron terror and said that terror can’t be connected to any religion.
“If one or two or 20 persons of a religion are involved in terror acts, the whole religion cannot be blamed for it. There is nothing called ‘Hindu terror’ or ‘saffron terror’. Terror is terror. You can’t connect it to any religion,” Mehrishi said on the day of his retirement.
“Those who indulges in terrorism in the name of religion is only bringing bad name to religion,” he added.
He also blamed Pakistan for sponsoring unrest and terrorism in India.
No talks can take place with pre-conditions
On the possibility of talks with the separatists, he said Home Minister Rajnath Singh has made it clear “many, many times” that the central government was open for dialogue in Kashmir.
“We want to talk,” he said.
“I don’t think that any talks can take place with pre- conditions,” Mehrishi told Indian news agency in an interview while replying to a question on whether the Centre was inclined to hold talks with the separatists in Jammu and Kashmir without any conditions.
He said there was “no doubt” that Pakistan has been sponsoring terrorism in Kashmir through various ways including funding terrorists.
Asked about the alleged alienation of Kashmiri youths, Mehrishi said alienation is a “concept of Delhi media” and the real issue for Kashmir is terrorism and radicalisation.
“Radicalisation and terrorism are the main issues, which we are dealing with. As one chief minister had said 95 per cent people in Kashmir want peace. The youths in Kashmir have the same aspiration, like any youth in rest of India, of good education, good job and a good life,” Mehrishi, a 1978-batch IAS officer of Rajasthan cadre, said.
“The children of separatists are studying in good schools; they buy properties in posh places. But they fund others for stone pelting,” the Home Secretary said while lashing out at Syed Ali Shah Geelani-led Hurriyat Conference.
The home secretary said the probe conducted by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) into the terror funding to Kashmiri separatists has its desired impact and it has been reflected in the activities of separatists and stone throwers.
Referring to the ongoing NIA probe on terror funding, he said the agency was carrying out a “free and fair” investigation and it will be taken into its logical conclusion.
“Dawood Ibrahim is in Pakistan. That country has given him shelter. That country is also putting hurdles in bringing him back to India to face the law,” he said.
The home secretary said the “attitude” of Pakistan was not in conformity with international law and it is working against India in Ibrahim’s case.