“We are not for a forcible tie-up with Kashmir but want to build emotional ties”, Rajnath said.
Advertisement
“This should stop…. Pakistani’s role is not “pak” (pure) on Kashmir”.
Kashmir is divided between India and Pakistan who have fought two wars over its control since 1947 when British rule of the subcontinent ended. “The Government of India is clear on this”.
Indian Home Minister Rajnath Singh headed to Kashmir following 15 days of curfew in the region after atrocities committed by Indian forces reached new heights.
Asking people to give their “constructice suggestions” to bring peace in the state, he said, “There is no need of any third force to improve the situation in Kashmir”.
“I appeal to the youth of Kashmir not to indulge in stonepelting and security forces should avoid use of pellet guns as far as possible”, he said.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti today lashed out at Pakistan for instigating youths in Kashmir to take up arms, saying it has to change its policy, and asked the centre to revoke AFSPA on trial basis from selected areas as a beginning towards “winning the hearts” of people. “We won’t tolerate militancy in any way. There is no other way”. “We will talk to the chief minister and we will work only after taking her into confidence”.
“We are traders, what would India achieve by talking to us”, KTMF president Yasin Khan said in a statement.
“If there are differences of opinion, those can be resolved through dialogue”, Singh said. “The committee will submit a report in 2 months”, Singh said. “I will check about it and will see about its progress”.
He observed that the use of excessive force against innocent civilians protesting peacefully over extrajudicial killings, is deplorable and a blatant violation of the Right to Life, Right to Freedom of Expression and Opinion, Right to Peaceful Protest, Right to Peaceful Assembly and other fundamental rights.
HM Rajnath Singh also visit the Anantnag district where he took the stock of ground situation.
The spokesman said there was no curfew in most of the towns/areas of Kashmir valley although curfew remained imposed in eight Police Stations of Srinagar and towns of Awantipora, Kulgam and Anantnag.
Accompanied by ruling PDP leaders, Mr Singh met some local players and families of those slain in police firings to hear a firsthand account about the situation. Mr Singh said: “I met more than 30 delegations since I landed in Srinagar yesterday”.
However, it is learnt that main opposition parties National Conference (NC) and Congress are still undecided on the matter.
Advertisement
But Srinagar-based trade union organizations including Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Kashmir Economic Alliance, Kashmir Traders’ Federation and also familiar civil society groups of the Valley, however, refused to meet Singh on the plea the government should first halt killing and maiming people at the hands of security forces. It also highlighted the “glaring political failures” of the central and the state governments while calling for immediate political engagement with Pakistan and a cross section of internal stakeholders within Kashmir “to pave way for a political solution to a political problem” that has claimed thousands of lives. He said condition of Asif Ahmad, who was injured during clashes in Kakapora, was critical while Aaqib Ahmad from Sopore was stable.
