Wednesday’s meeting comes amid reports that the Centre is planning to harden its stance vis-à-vis Kashmiri separatist leaders who snubbed individual members of the all-party delegation who tried to talk to them in Srinagar on Sunday.
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Top separatist leaders Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Yasin Malik and Syed Ali Geelani, on Saturday refused to attend talks with non-BJP MPs like Asaduddin Owaisi, CPI (M)’s Sitaram Yechuri, CPI’s D Raja and Janta Dal United’s Sharad Yadav.
Home Minister of Rajnath Singh on Monday said that he was confident that Kashmir situation will improve. Briefing media in Srinagar, Rajnath Singh said that shunning delegation members who have come for talks shows, Hurriyat members do not believe in democracy.
Sources said Rajnath too would stay at the hotel.
The Centre may harden its attitude towards the separatist leaders in Jammu and Kashmir, making their foreign travel hard; it may also scale down the security which they enjoy at the exchequer’s cost.
While as talking to India Today earlier, Hansraj Ahir, MoS Home had said that there is no difference between the separatists and terrorists and the government is going to take tough action and withdraw all facilities provided to separatists.
The Centre has chose to review the facilities, including security and medical, extended to separatist in Kashmir, days after the pro-freedom leaders declined to meet an all-party delegation during a visit to the Valley, which is on the boil since the killing of Hizbul commander Burhan Wani on July 8.
It is notable that the opposition leaders of the Parliament from all-party delegation had approached Hurriyat after failed initiative of talks with CM Mufti.
After visiting Jammu and Kashmir and assessing the law and order situation in the valley, All-Party Delegation is reported to have suggest a curtail in the funds to the separatists.
The Union minister, however, said, “The response (from separatists) is neither yes nor no”. Geelani saw the MPs from the window, but refused to meet.
Though Singh is insisting that the “doors are open” for dialogue, sources said the Centre also wants a message to go across that the separatists are holding up peace and development in Jammu and Kashmir. Asked about Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti’s letter to separatists inviting them for talks with APD, the Union Home Minister said he was aware of the letter. “I think we are heading for that time only”, Omar said.
The Minister said during his last visit concerns were raised about the use of pellet guns for which non-lethal replacement shells PAVA have been recommended.
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When asked whether the Centre is willing to go the extra mile on the demands of autonomy raised by PDP and National Conference from time to time, he said, “We are not concerned with whatever one had said in the past”.
