The unrest has left 70 people dead and crippled life in the valley.
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Singh made a strong appeal to the media to ensure that the real message of brotherhood, peace and human dignity is carried to all in the three regions as well as to the people of J&K living today in POK, Gilgit, Baltistan and other occupied areas by China.
Rajnath Singh and Mehbooba Mufti at a press conference in Srinagar on Thursday; (above) curfew batters Pulwama district.
SRINAGAR: In occupied Kashmir, pro-freedom leaders and organizations have termed the visit of Indian Home Minister, Rajnath Singh, to the territory as a futile exercise aimed at misleading the worldwide community by giving an impression that New Delhi is serious about situation in the Valley.
Jammu and Kashmir Police have “not acted and the alleged troublemakers are roaming about free”, the source said, adding that the Chief Minister was being pressurized to crack down on them.
Rajnath Singh said that the government has proper understanding of the situation and will address the Kashmir problem accordingly. “Without the future of Kashmir, the future of India can not exist”, he said. The Centre has said it is willing to engage with people in the Valley and take the dialogue process forward with whoever wants to talk.
As journalists started asking more questions, Mehbooba stood up and said the press conference is over even though Singh was seated and was in mood to take more questions.
The Chairperson of Dukhtaran-e-Millat, Aasiya Andrabi, in her statement in Srinagar stated that Rajnath Singh’s visit was meaningless to the Kashmiri people.
Talking to reporters, Singh indicated government’s willingness to talk to separatists and also said that an alternative to pellet guns is coming soon.
The home minister also urged people to identify those “fanning trouble”, hinting at what the government calls elements backed by Pakistan to instigate people to attack security forces.
However, Mehbooba was combative, saying, “What will they tell me?”
Mehbooba justified the killing of protesters by security forces in the ongoing unrest, saying those hit by bullets or pellets didn’t go to fetch milk or toffees. I have rescued the people from the knife on their necks.
“Who are the people who allow them to take stones in their hands?” he asked.
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Indian-administered-Kashmir continued to witness casualties with one more youth getting killed and several others getting injured in a clash between protesters and security forces even as curfew was in force in many parts of the valley to thwart a planned march by separatists.
