“They also demanded that Centre initiate a dialogue with all stakeholders in Jammu and Kashmir to find a lasting solution to the problems faced by the state”, a source said. “Those who lost their lives during the recent disturbances are part of us, our nation”.
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This is the second visit of the Home Minister to the Kashmir Valley since the trouble began.
SRINAGAR, INDIA-Indian government forces fired shotguns and tear gas in India’s portion of Kashmir on Wednesday to break up new protests demanding an end to Indian rule in the disputed Himalayan region, killing a young man and injuring at least 50 other people.
The House also referred two Bills “The Punjab Consumers Protection Bill-2016” by a private member Sheikh Allauddin and “The Prisons (Amend) Bill-2016” by Hina Pervaiz Butt to concerned committees.
He said that in these 872 incidents, 42 civilians and two security personnel were killed, while 2656 civilians and 3783 security personnel were injured.
Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi and other senior officials from the ministry are expected to accompany Rajnath Singh to the valley. “There can not be any scope for any injustice to the public at large but at the same time there is also no room for any compassion for terrorists”, he said.
Shops and business establishments, however, remained closed across the city for the 46th day in a row.
In an open challenge to the government order asking its employees to resume their duties, the separatist leadership asked people to lock down all government offices except essential services in the Valley on Monday, and not allow movement of any employees towards their offices. Authorities also continued with their restrictions in many parts of the troubled Kashmir Valley where life remained paralysed.
The politicians in a memorandum handed to Modi singled out Indian security forces’ firing of shotguns to disperse the stone-throwing Kashmiri protesters. She said once gun makes inroads in a society, then the meaning of “azadi” is lost.
With Kashmir in turmoil, a delegation of opposition parties from the state will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi tomorrow to impress upon him the need for finding a political solution to the crisis by initiating a dialogue with all stakeholders.
BJP wants the Mehbooba Mufti government to act tough against those taking the lead in organising violent protests in Kashmir, asserting that it will have to deal firmly with radical elements to end the ongoing unrest.
The Prime Minister said his government stands with the state of Jammu and Kashmir and suggested that all political parties should reach out to the people and convey the same.
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Having said this, the court advised Bhim Singh, the head of the Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party, to join the political process instead of having a court hearing.
