JAMMU and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Thursday lost her cool and abruptly ended a press conference being addressed by her and Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh here when journalists asked questions about her role in dealing with the current unrest.
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They want peace. They want a dialogue to resolve the Kashmir issue.
The move comes after Home Minister Rajnath Singh announced in Srinagar that he had asked Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti to make preparation for the visit. In 2010, there was a reason for protests as three civilians were killed in a fake encounter in Machi. Today, three militants were killed, as it has been happening for years, people came out on roads and curfew was imposed.
They said the Home Minister had asked the Chief Minister to act tough against and round up those perpetrating a deadly civilian unrest triggered by the July 8 killing of Hizbul commander Burhan Wani. “Had a kid gone to buy a toffee from an Army camp? Was the 15-year-old buying milk when he attacked a police station in Damhal Hanjipora of south Kashmir?”
Talking to reporters, Singh indicated government’s willingness to talk to separatists and also said that an alternative to pellet guns is coming soon. “I appeal to one and all in Kashmir not to play with the future of our youth”, he said at the conference, adding that young boys who should have computers, pens and books in their hands are holding stones instead.
Replying to a question on use of pellet guns against violent protesters, the Home Minister said as promised during his last visit to Kashmir valley, he has constituted an expert committee which would submit its report within two months. On the Once fired, the shells burst and temporarily stun, immobilise and paralyse the target. Singh said an all-party delegation from New Delhi would visit the Valley soon and pellet guns would also be replaced with an alternative within a week.
“Her statements exposed the fact that she has bought the chair by selling off the lives, properties, prestige and land of the Kashmiri people to her BJP masters”. “Ninety-five percent people killed are from poor families”.
She said that for the past 50 days every section of society had proved to the world that no matter how much losses they suffer, they will continue this struggle until it reaches its logical conclusion. The Pulwama curfew was owing to the death of a youth after clashes with security forces on Wednesday. But by resorting to stone-pelting and attacking the camps, no issue will be resolved.
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During his stay in Srinagar, the Home Minister said he met some 300 people, including leaders of all political parties in the state, with whom he had “good talks”. All I said was 95% people in the valley want peaceful resolution to the problem.
