But not everyone was so sure. Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram believed that the Army Chief had crossed the line with his remarks and said the government needed to halt their whole-hearted support of them.
“The Army Chief’s comments are intemperate. It is a political problem which needs a political solution and a political reach out. I am worried and I request the government to halt this approach and adopt a different one. More infiltration and more encounters are taking place in the state and things are getting very bad.”
Chidambaram’s statement was all the more interesting as it seemed to contrast with a statement given earlier by his own party. Speaking to DNA earlier in the day, Congress spokesperson Tom Vadakkan also supported the Army Chief’s statement, but targeted the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) which is currently in alliance with the BJP in Jammu and Kashmir.
“Yes, the Army Chief is correct and it is therefore important for the Forces to go and arrest and take action against anyone whoever he may be, and whatever political dispensation he is from. Civil authorities’ action must be taken against every anti-national,” Vadakkan said.
While the political battle continued in the national Capital, there was an air of caution in Srinagar, as the Jammu and Kashmir government issued an advisory asking the general public to stay away from counter-insurgency operation sites for their own safety. The district administrations of Srinagar, Budgam and Shopian advised people not to move towards or assemble near places where encounters take place between security forces and militants.
