Asking people to give their “constructive suggestions” to bring peace in the state, he said, “There is no need of any third force to improve the situation in Kashmir”. “We will talk to whosoever needed once peace and normalcy is restored in the state”, Singh added.
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He said that India and its leaders and media know that everyone in Kashmir “is a staunch supporter of freedom and resistance, and ongoing protest movements are aimed at raising voice for freedom only”.
In a statement here Geelani said, “Those who have pinned any hope on this visit are living in a fool’s paradise, as our 70-year experience with India stands testimony to the fact that they were never honest and realistic regarding Kashmir”.
The Home Minister ended the visit on Sunday with old anti-Pakistan rhetoric that had nothing new to offer to angry Kashmiris, who are bearing the brunt of another summer of discontent following dozens of civilian killings and thousands of injuries in firing by security forces on stone-throwing protesters.
SHARIF’S K TALK WISHFUL: PAK DAILY Describing Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s rhetoric about the accession of Kashmir to Pakistan as “wishful thinking”, a leading Pakistani daily said statements like these will invite “more trouble” for the country as well as for the Kashmiri people.
He said his government didn’t want “a relationship with Kashmir that is forcible and based on necessities”.
Rajnath Singh, in no ambiguous terms, asked Pakistan to stop meddling in Kashmir affairs.
Singh appealed for peace and also asked Pakistan not to interfere in Kashmir’s affairs. “If we have come here, we have come with some objective and do something”, he said. The Congress refused to meet the home minister, and so did key trade union bodies and civil society groups.
National Conference delegation, led by its working president and former chef minister Omar Abdullah met the minister. “I have conveyed to the Chief Minister that if need be the injured can be sent to Delhi”.
The memorandum sought measures from the central and state governments.
The issue of internal and external dialogue with “all stakeholders” for settlement of Kashmir issue is also part of the governance agenda between the BJP and the PDP.
Constable Mudasir Ahmad of the Jammu-Kashmri police became the second policeman to die in the turmoil thus marking the rate of death toll at 48.
The All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) Chairman, Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Mohammad Yasin Malik have extended the shutdown call in Indian-held Kashmir till July 29.
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Meanwhile, the normal life remained paralysed on the 16th consecutive day on Sunday.
