Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has said that children in Jammu and Kashmir are “nationalists” and those “motivating them in wrong direction are the culprits”.
Singh’s remarks come days after Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat said children were being radicalized in Kashmir and it was a matter of concern.
“The children of Jammu Kashmir are nationalists. They shouldn’t be seen in any other way,” Singh said. He was replying to a question on children in Jammu and Kashmir being motivated to join the NCC.
“Youngsters are youngsters only. Sometimes, the way they should be motivated, people do not motivate them. In fact, they are motivated in the wrong direction,” Singh was quoted as saying by PTI.
“That is why children should not be blamed for this. The ones who are motivating them in the wrong direction are the culprits,” the defence minister added.
Last week, at a panel discussion at the Raisina Dialogue 2020 in New Delhi, General Rawat had said that children as young as 10 or 12 years old were being radicalised in Kashmir and it was worrying.
