“While deciding to evolve a mechanism to engage the people of Kashmir in a dialogue process to work out solutions for the problems faced by them, the Union Home Minister does not favour an engagement with the separatists who take their directions from across the border”, official sources said.
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Singh, who air-toured south Kashmir and met some injured youth in Islamabad district said, “I met more 30 delegations since I landed in Srinagar yesterday”.
Kashmir has been witnessing a massive unrest that followed the death of Hizb commander Burhan Wani on July 8, with firing by security forces leaving 48 civilians dead and hundreds injured.
Singh is also scheduled to hold a one-on-one meeting with Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, whose repeated appeals for ending protests and maintaining peace have failed to impress people.
The official, however, said restrictions on assembly of four or more people under Section 144 CrPC will continue in the areas where curfew has been lifted.
“This should stop…. Pakistani’s role is not “pak” (pure) on Kashmir. They must change their attitude and mindset vis-a-vis Jammu and Kashmir”.
Reports said Rajnath Singh told the delegations that the ongoing unrest was triggered by “forces from across the border”.
Streets are silent, police and paramilitary troopers patrolled the deserted roads and residents remained caged inside their homes from over 15 days of a ceaseless curfew in this densely populated Old City of disputed Kashmir region’s summer capital Srinagar.
“Whatever is necessary for restoration of peace will be done”, BJP general secretary (organisation) Ram Lal said.
“As far as the Indian government is concerned, I want to say in clear terms that we want to have an emotional bond with Kashmir and not just a bond of necessities”.
“I am anxious about the situation here, so is our prime minister”, Singh told reporters after meeting with business, government and other groups during the visit.
“We are traders, what would India achieve by talking to us”, KTMF president Yasin Khan said in a statement.
He reiterated his commitment in parliament that the central government would set up a team of experts to find ways on using non-lethal weapons to control mobs. “We do not need the involvement of any third power to address the Kashmir situation”. The government will make sure they are treated at the AIIMS.
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He said the trade bodies have demanded that security officials should be made accountable for the killing of civilians and pellet guns banned.
