Mir also welcomed Singh’s comments on an all-party delegation visiting Kashmir, saying although it was late, yet a welcome step.
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The state witnessed violent protests after the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen militant Burhan Wani on July 8.
PELLET guns, which has caused large-scale injuries in the 47-day unrest in Kashmir, are likely to be replaced soon with Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday saying an alternative to this crowd control device for security forces will be given in the coming few days.
“I am ready to talk to those who believe in humanity, democracy and think for the betterment of Kashmir”, Rajnath Singh said during the joint press conference in Srinagar, the capital of Kashmir.
“Security personnel told to exercise restraint and they are exercising maximum restraint and also bearing the brunt of protesters and as a result 4,500 security personnel have been injured so far”. “But now, we feel there should be an alternative”, Rajnath Singh said.
The Chief Minister said 95 per cent people of Jammu and Kashmir want a peaceful solution through dialogue and just five per cent are derailing the whole process. “We can not think of Kashmir’s future as separate from India”.
As journalists started asking tough questions on Kashmir, Mehbooba stood up and said the press conference was over, even though Singh was seated and in the mood to take more questions. “I have saved them from the knives when they were taken for bonded labour”, she said. “We are linking the future of Kashmiri youth with the future of India”. This is Singh’s second visit amid continued curfew and restrictions in many parts of the valley since Wani’s death.
Meanwhile, India deployed its border force in India-Held Kashmir (IHK) for the first time in 12 years even as fresh clashes broke out in Pulwama district of the state on Wednesday. Two policemen have also been killed and hundreds of government forces have been injured in the clashes.
All this while, Singh kept appealing to everyone not to play with the future of Kashmiri youths, urging people to identify those “fanning trouble”.
Mehbooba said “Thank-you”, and abruptly ended the press conference when journalists asked questions about her role in dealing with the current unrest.
Sharma also welcomed the decision of the Union government of providing ex-gratia, compensation of rupees five lakh to the families of the victims of cross-border firing, landmines explosions and IED explosions in the border areas. “We want a resolution”, she said. They imposed curfew. While defending the security forces and the retaliatory fire when the youth were attacking the security establishments, She asked “Did the children go to army camps to buy toffees (candy)?”
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The visit of Home Minister to Kashmir comes after the interaction of Prime Minister Narendra Modi with a delegation of opposition parties led by former chief minister of J&K Omar Abdullah in the national capital New Delhi on Monday.
