It was the first political initiative in the days of deadly unrest that gripped nearly the entire Kashmir Valley following the July 8 killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani and two of his aides.
Advertisement
In the parliament Rajnath Singh had said that security forces were instructed to exercise maximum restraint while dealing with the protesters in the Kashmir Valley.
Over 50 civilians have been killed in the ongoing unrest while 4000 have been injured in the Valley after the killing Burhan Wani.
Kashmir Economic Alliance (KEA) and Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), the two major trade and economic bodies in the Valley, while deciding not to meet the Home Minister, said “such exercise will be futile”.
Singh further said that Pakistan played a “key role” in fuelling tension and that the situation was “normalising” gradually.
Describing the youth of Kashmir as “patriots”, he said in “there is an attempt to misguide some” of them and a “mindset that stokes baseless anger against India”.
More or less similar views were expressed by CPIM’s Muhammad Yusuf Tarigami who also said that the nature of the unrest ought to be recognised and dealt with essentially politically instead of using military might to suppress it.
A youth identified as Mushtaq Ahmad Bhat sustained severe injuries in the abdomen after being hit by pellets during protests at Chursoo in Awantipora area of Pulwama this afternoon after Friday prayers, a police official said. “India should hold dialogue with Pakistan and our leaders if it is honest in resolving the Kashmir dispute”, Khan said. “I will then talk to Chief Minister”, he said. About half an hour later, Chief Minister, Ms. Mufti also joined them. The committee would submit a report in two months.
He said he met at least 13 delegations during his stay in Srinagar and asked them “to help the government with constructive suggestions in bringing peace and normalcy”.
Rajnath Singh, according to official sources, however, met some delegations including civil society members and leaders of some mainstream political parties.
Advertisement
Dr. Kaisar Ahmad, Principal at Government Medical College Srinagar, told Reuters that over 280 people had been treated for pellet injuries since July 9 when violence broke out in Kashmir during protests sparked by the death of a separatist militant.
