Srinagar: India’s defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman, on her maiden visit to Kashmir after being elevated to Prime Minister Modi’s cabinet, held hour long discussions with Governor N.N. Vohra at the Raj Bhavan here.
Accompanied by Chief of Army Staff, General Bipin Rawat, she was received by the Governor on her arrival at the Raj Bhavan.
Governor and Sitharaman discussed several important inter-related issues concerning effective management of internal and external security, particularly in the context of “increasing” attempts at infiltration, an official spokesman said.
“The ongoing anti-(militancy) operations, and sustained (militants) attacks on Forces personnel in the Valley (were also discussed),” the spokesman added.
Among the various matters discussed with the minister, Governor stressed the crucial need for urgent enlargement of BRO and very significant strengthening of its resources for ensuring the maintenance of vital road networks and strategic connectivities in J&K, particularly in the Ladakh region.
Vohra also sought Sitharaman’s personal intervention for the return of certain pockets of land to the State Government which were no longer required for military purposes, about which he had earlier held meetings with former Army Chief and minister.
Governor informed her that despite the increasing activities along the IB and LoC the officers and men of the Northern Army, particularly of the Chinar Corps, had been discharging their duties with exceptional devotion, under very difficult circumstances. He also lauded the Northern Army’s working in total coordination with the Civil Administration, State Police and Central Armed Forces.
