Pune: Jammu and Kashmir’s+ (J&K) former Director General of Police (DGP) SP Vaid, while speaking at the Lalitaditya Memorial Lecture organised by Sarhad on Monday, said, “We need to filter the information that comes to India through the Internet from Pakistan. We also need to have the policy to counter the misleading information and militancy that Pakistan is spreading through social media.”
India’s former Home Secretary Madhav Godbole and Sanjay Nahar of Sarhad were also present on the occasion.
Speaking about the situation in Kashmir, Vaid who has served in Kashmir for a long time before opting for voluntary retirement last year said that Pakistan has been inflicting long-lasting damage on Kashmir through social media.
“They have been using social media to spread anti-India propaganda and instigate the youth of Kashmir. They have also used social media openly to recruit militants from the valley. That is why there is a strong need to filter the content that comes from Pakistan,” Vaid said.
When asked on the issue of abrogation of Article 370, Vaid said, “It was wise of the government to shut Internet in J&K while abolishing Article 370. Of course, banning Internet access has adverse effects when it is done for the long term. However, at that time, it was necessary, otherwise, there would be many more casualties in the State.”
What the people of Kashmir need now, Vaid said, is to be taken care of.
“People are central to the issue of Kashmir. We, the authorities, need to prevent local boys from joining the militants. We need to bring back our boys who have already gone that way, as in the end, they are our boys. We need to look at the Kashmiris to be the same as others,” he added.
Madhav Godbole, who was also speaking on the occasion, said, “Abrogation of Article 370 is not the end of the Kashmir story. In fact, it is just the beginning. We need to build a bridge and create an emotional bond with the people of Kashmir. This will be the most important thing to do in the coming months and years.”
“Ask Kashmiris to look at Pakistan-Occupied-Kashmir (POK) where the people have lost their own identity. Kashmiris also need to know the importance of freedom they enjoy because they are in India. Pakistan still does not have a Constitution. We need to discuss this with the Kashmiris, and with all of India,” Godbole said.
