Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday said some members of parliament from the all-party delegation went to meet Kashmiri separatists in their individual capacity and the behaviour of the Hurriyat leaders with them defied the spirit of “Kashmiriyat” and “insaniyat”. We neither said “Yes” nor “No” (to the move).
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The meeting came close on the heels of Home Minister’s return from Jammu and Kashmir after wrapping up his two day visit to troubled Kashmir. But separatist leaders rebuffed the gesture, with Geelani even refusing to meet them.
The separatists had rejected Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti’s invitation, terming such a measure as “deceitful” and insisting that it can not be an alternative to a “transparent agenda-based dialogue to address the core issue”. The Centre is upset that the state government is treating the separatists with kid gloves. “I do not want to get into this debate”, he said.
Yechury also rubbished reports of a hardening of stance against separatist leaders, stating that the Home Minister said in all party meet that reports of the government deciding to crack down on separatists is absolutely wrong.
MPs of Opposition parties urged the government to also hold dialogues with all those affected by the prevailing situation in the state. “There is no second opinion about the fact that Jammu and Kashmir was, is and will remain an integral part of India”.
“As far as talks are concerned, our doors are open to everyone who wants peace and normalcy”, the minister told reporters in Srinagar.
Aomprehensive review of Kashmir policy is on the cards, sources said. Over 12,000 have been injured in last two months.
PAVA shells, a chilli-based ammunition, is less lethal and immobilises the target temporarily.
Besides, the Centre may also examine their bank accounts and complete pending investigations in cases against them, so that a strong message goes around that those provoking youths in Kashmir Valley will not be spared, government sources said. The meeting assessed the situation in Kashmir and aimed to chalk out a future strategy. We had neither said no nor yes to their meetings (with separatists). Nothing concrete will happen until or unless India talks to Pakistan on Kashmir.
Earlier, Owaisi said Mirwaiz expressed his inability to have any talks because of position taken by his organisation. More than 30 delegations comprising 300 members from political parties, civil society, University teachers, fruit growers, students and intellectuals have presented their view before the delegation, he said. “We need everyone’s cooperation”, he added.
On the second day of its visit, the delegation visited Jammu where the members met over 200 persons in about 18 different delegations from various sections of society.
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Separatists in a joint effort made a point of staying away, while the delegation of parliamentarians met representatives on the first day of the visit.
