Jammu, July 4 (IANS) Former Jammu and Kashmir Director General of Police (DGP), SP Vaid, on Saturday criticised the Union Territory government for approving a book that “glorifies extremists and separatist leaders” while welcoming the Centre’s designation of 23 individuals as terrorists under the provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).

Earlier on Saturday, the Union Home Minister’s Office said: “Out of the 23 terrorists announced today, 17 are Pakistani nationals and six are Indian nationals. However, all of them at present operate terrorist activities from Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Jammu and Kashmir.”

The former DGP told IANS that the Ministry of Home Affairs’ (MHA) move will serve as “powerful statement” for countries across the globe.

“Out of (the 23), I think six are residents of Jammu and Kashmir and 17 are Pakistanis. So, designating them will help the investigating agencies to seize their properties,” he said.

Responding to questions over a controversy that erupted in Jammu and Kashmir over the alleged distribution of a book in government school libraries that purportedly glorifies separatist and anti-national figures, SP Vaid called it “extremely shameful”.

Criticising the Jammu and Kashmir government, the former DGP said: “The government which has been elected by the people has approved such a book to be kept in government school libraries, which quotes separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani that “India is an occupier here, that ‘it is Indian-Occupied Kashmir'”.”

Referring to the crackdown by Pakistani forces in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK), former DGP Vaid said: “Ask this to the people who are facing atrocities in PoK. That region is occupied. Jammu and Kashmir had an accession with India. The real occupier is the military of Pakistan.”

“You (Jammu and Kashmir government) are trying to portray that Jammu and Kashmir is occupied. This reflects their mindset,” he added.

Former DGP Vaid said that such an incident “glorifies JKLF founder Maqbool Bhat” who was a terrorist and hence was sentenced to death after a due process.

“According to this book, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, who is a separatist leader, is the last hope of Jammu and Kashmir. It might be the mindset of the author, but it cannot be the thinking of the people there (Jammu and Kashmir) otherwise elections won’t have been successful,” he added.

The former DGP alleged, saying: “This book attempts to show separatist leaders as martyrs despite they being the ones who indulged in incidents of stone-pelting (in Jammu and Kashmir) on the direction of Pakistan. Such a book should be banned as this is the language of Pakistan’s ISI.”

SP Vaid urged for legal action against those who approved the book, expressing concern about the teachings being passed onto the future generations.

He also alleged that the young generation is “already being radicalised in madrasas, now are they attempting to target government schools and destroy the mindset of students?”

The former DGP urged the Jammu and Kashmir government to seek apology from the families of the martyrs who laid down their lives for the Union Territory, for attempting to depict the separatist leaders as “legends”.

–IANS

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