The Home Minister has already spoken at least twice to Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and assured her all central assistance to tackle the violent protests, which so far claimed 23 lives.
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Union home minister Rajnath Singh has postponed his visit to the U.S., scheduled to begin from July 17, in the wake of Kashmir protests following the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist Burhan Wani in an encounter last week.
Today’s meeting was convened to discuss the tense situation in Jammu and Kashmir was attended by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and NSA Ajit Doval, who returned a day earlier.
A Home Ministry official cited the busy schedule during the coming Monsoon session of Parliament beginning July 18 as the reason for the deferment of the visit.
“Home Minister Rajnath Singh is briefing [Modi] about the latest situation in Kashmir and [the] future course of action”, sources said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is back in Delhi after his 4- African nations tour, has appealed to residents of Kashmir to maintain calm and peace in the Valley.
Indian officials also lifted a suspension on the annual Hindu pilgrimage to a mountain cave that draws about half a million people each year, and asked that law enforcement ensure the security of the pilgrimage.
The official said that the Amarnath Yatra was “never suspended officially” after violence erupted in the valley on Saturday and was continuing in a “controlled way”. I told him that until security forces exercise maximum restraint & stop killing protestors…
At the same time, government sources asserted that those holding the gun and targeting civilians or security forces would be dealt with sternly.
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During the telephonic conversation with Ms. Gandhi and National Conference leader Mr. Omar, the Home Minister had discussed with them efforts to bring back peace and normalcy in Kashmir Valley. Almost 1300 others, including 200 security personnel, have been injured.
