India on Saturday alleged that certain forces within and outside the country were out to create trouble in Jammu and Kashmir, ahead of assembly elections to be held shortly in that state, and said that all precautionary measures will be taken to face the challenge.
"One thing is clear. Forces inside and outside India don't want free, fair and peaceful elections in Kashmir. In the coming months, we will see more insurgency and violence," Defence Minister A K Antony told reporters but refrained from naming any country.
The government is taking steps to face the situation, Antony said while responding to a query on the militants' attack on Border Road Organisation men at Kupwara, in which five BRO personnel were killed.
"We will give logistic support to the Election Commission to conduct free, fair and peaceful elections, because free and fair polls will increase the confidence of people in India and outside and help the process of normalisation in Kashmir. We are taking all precautionary steps. But in the coming months, forces are bent upon creating trouble," he said.
Expressing shock over the attack on the BRO contingent, Antony said, "Five precious lives were lost. They were only building bridges and roads to help Kashmir people and not any other activity". The government will extend all help to the victims' families, he said.
On the creation of a Indian Space Research Organisation cell for monitoring satellites, Antony said it was not a sudden reaction. "We have to look all around us. We must be ready to face any eventuality," he said.
On being asked whether the need for such a cell stemmed from a threat from China, the defence minister said: "No, not only from one country. We must look around to face any challenges in the future".
