The victims of cross-border violence need more than visits and photo-ops. Rebuilding lives in Poonch demands urgent compensation, statehood, and dignity.
BY PC Bureau
Home Minister Shah will chair a high-level security review meeting on Thursday evening. The meeting will be attended by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, senior officials from the Indian Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police, Border Security Force (BSF), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Intelligence Bureau (IB), and other paramilitary and civil administration representatives. The agenda includes assessing security arrangements for the upcoming Amarnath Yatra, set to begin on July 3, and addressing the fallout from the recent cross-border hostilities.
On Friday, Shah will travel to Poonch, the district hardest hit by the Pakistani shelling, which caused significant damage to nearly 2,000 structures, including homes, religious sites, and schools.
He is scheduled to meet families of the victims at the Dak Bungalow, listen to their grievances, and hand over appointment letters to the next of kin of those killed. The Home Minister will also visit the damaged Singh Sabha Gurdwara and interact with BSF jawans at a border camp to review security preparedness along the Line of Control (LoC). Sources indicate that Shah’s visit aims to reinforce the government’s commitment to peace and rehabilitation in the region, with calls from local leaders, including National Conference’s Rattan Lal Gupta, for a comprehensive financial package to rebuild livelihoods and infrastructure.
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This marks Shah’s third visit to Jammu and Kashmir since April 6, following his trips on April 6 and April 22, the latter prompted by the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people, mostly tourists. The government has already disbursed ₹6 lakh from the Ministry of Home Affairs and ₹10 lakh from the Jammu and Kashmir administration as ex gratia relief for bereaved families, though concerns remain over inadequate compensation for property damage.
Rahul Gandhi’s Poonch Visit
On May 24, Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, visited Poonch to meet families affected by the shelling, which he described as a “big tragedy.” Accompanied by Jammu and Kashmir Minister Javed Ahmed Rana, JKPCC President Tariq Hameed Karra, and other Congress leaders, Gandhi conducted door-to-door visits to assess the damage, including to the homes of 13-year-old twins Zain and Zoya, who were killed in the attacks. He also visited the Gurdwara Singh Sabha, Geeta Bhawan temple, Madrassa Zia-ul-Uloom, and Christ High School, where he interacted with students, encouraging them to “study hard, play hard, and make friends” despite the frightening situation.
Udhampur, Jammu and Kashmir: On Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s visit to Jammu and Kashmir, Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary says, “It is the right of India’s Home Minister to visit, especially Poonch, where heavy damage has occurred. Around 80% of Poonch has been… pic.twitter.com/Too7psA1r0
— IANS (@ians_india) May 29, 2025
Gandhi assured residents that he would raise their concerns at the national level, emphasizing the “harmony, unity, and patriotism” of Poonch’s people. In a post on X, he wrote, “Broken houses, scattered belongings, moist eyes, and painful stories of losing loved ones—these patriotic families bear the biggest burden of war with courage and dignity. I stand strongly with them.” His visit, however, drew criticism from BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla, who accused Gandhi of “whitewashing terrorism” by calling the shelling a “tragedy.” Congress leaders, including former minister Lal Singh, defended Gandhi, noting that his visits to both Pahalgam and Poonch highlighted the plight of affected communities across religious lines.
Political Context and Demands
The visits come amid heightened political tensions. Jammu and Kashmir Congress president Tariq Hameed Karra questioned the delay in Shah’s visit, asking why it took over 20 days for the Home Minister to reach Poonch and why no other national leaders visited earlier. Karra also demanded accountability for alleged security lapses in the Pahalgam attack and accused the BJP of politicizing Operation Sindoor’s success. Meanwhile, National Conference leaders have urged Shah to announce a robust financial package and address the long-standing demand for restoring statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, a promise reiterated by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.
