Centre never takes ceasefire violations lightly: Kiren Rijiju

KANPUR: Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju said the Centre never takes ceasefire violations "lightly" but do not pass "big statements" on action taken by the government.

He also said that the security forces have full freedom to answer back to such violations by the neighbouring country.

The government cannot publicly discuss many issues including the actions taken against ceasefire violations as it has to keep in mind the international level too, he said.

He was here to attend a meeting with scientists at DRDO-run Defence Materials and Stores Research and Development Establishment.

"We have given free hand to BSF and other security forces to appropriately deal with the violations but the Union government never takes it lightly," he said.

"We neither pass big statements on the action taken nor discuss them in public," Rijiju said.

"In the last 15 months, the BJP-led government has promptly responded to such activities but during the previous government's response to killing of our soldiers was never known," Rijiju said.

Responding to a question on holding talks with Pakistan, Rijiju said that it is for the Prime Minister to decide whether to hold talks or not.

Over Union ministers' recent meetings with RSS leaders, Rijiju said the government should have communication with every citizen and organisation in the country.

The ministers communicate with leaders of RSS for the welfare of the country, he said.

Expressing concern over murder of former vice-chancellor of Hampi University, Prof MM Kalburgi, Rijiju said the Centre and the state should work together in such matters.