Pakistan desperate to attack Amarnath, Vaishno Devi pilgrims: J&K Dy CM Nirmal Singh

Jammu: Asserting that the recent incidents of ceasefire violations were aimed at facilitating infiltration from across the border, J&K Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh, on Monday, said that Pakistan was desperately trying to disrupt the annual Amarnath Yatra in the state.

"The Pakistan side is desperate to attack Amarnath Yatra and Vishno Devi Yatra, in the wake of the tightened security in the state and the tough stand of the Central government," he told reporters.

While Pakistan army and the ISI are busy in anti-India activities, the intentions of the Pakistan government are also not clear, he said.

Addressing the party workers during a function on Monday, Singh also spoke about the alleged differences between the PDP-BJP coalition in the state.

The coalition partners in the state have their own separate agendas and the day BJP feels that it has become difficult for the party to continue, it would not spare a moment to pull out of the government.

"Problems do arise as we have our own agenda and our ruling partner (PDP) has a different agenda. The day the party (BJP) feels that it has become difficult to continue (in the coalition), we will not stay in power for one second," he said.

The leader stated that in the past four months since the formation of the state government, BJP has "set a level playing field with the coalition partner and the party would soon start delivering to the people of Jammu".

The Deputy Chief Minister also hit out at reports of discrimination by the state government with Jammu and Ladakh region.

Earlier there were talks of discrimination with Jammu and Ladakh region, but the party will ensure that there is an end to such discrimination, he said.

Singh pointed out that it was for the first time that a Kashmir based Chief Minister himself went to Baltal to take stock of the arrangements being made for the annual Amarnath Yatra.

He said that the government was working towards making Jammu an independent tourist destination and the work on developing several places in the region has already been started.

"The work on the artificial lake in Jammu is on and soon it would be completed," he said.

On the issue of setting up of AIIMS in Jammu, Singh expressed hope that the Union government would soon make an announcement.

"Some people launched an agitation for AIIMS recently, but we are hopeful that the Central government will make an announcement of setting up of AIIMS in Jammu soon. The announcement will be made soon as it is the commitment of the central government," he said.

Singh, however, criticised Congress, who were in power at the Centre and the state for ignoring the issue. He accused Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad who was the Union Health minister during the UPA regime of not doing anything for setting up of the premier health institution in Jammu.

"What was Ghulam Nabi Azad doing when he was the Union health minister," he said.

Singh said that the government was working towards improving the power scenario in the state and was planning to announce amnesty for the people who are unable to clear their electricity dues.

Speaking at the function, BJP state president Jugal Kishore Sharma held former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru responsible for the partition of Jammu and Kashmir.