Singh, who arrived here today, met about fifteen different delegations representing Sikh community, Kashmiri Pandits, Imams, fruit growers, Chamber of Commerce, Youth, Horticulture and Tourism and Hospitality industry and entrepreneurs.
Advertisement
Ambassador Lodhi informed participants of the meeting, which was convened at the Pakistan Mission to the United Nations in NY, that the government of Pakistan stood firm in its principled policy of providing moral and diplomatic support to the Kashmir cause, according to a press release of the mission.
“People’s right to peaceful assembly and protest should be restored forthwith. We want to build a relationship based on emotional bonds”.
“Even more condemnable than these deplorable attempts from across our border to incite violence and glorify terrorists is the fact that these attempts have been undertaken by Pakistan’s state machinery in active partnership with UN-designated terrorist Hafiz Saeed and other leading terrorists belonging to internationally proscribed organisations”, she said. “It is itself affected by terrorism”.
Saying the Indian government would never tolerate terrorism, the minister said while Pakistan carried out operations against militants in Islamabad’s Lal Masjid in July 2007, they encouraged youths to take up arms in Kashmir. “Asking people of Kashmir to surrender reflects foolishness”, said a separatist leader. “How can anybody talk when killings are taking place?” he said. “Therefore, Mr. Singh we have decided not to meet you”, the KEA said in the letter.
“If there is any disagreement, it can be resolved through mutual dialogue”, Singh told reporters at Technical Airport before flying off to Delhi after concluding his two-day visit to Srinagar.
“Kashmir is a dispute accepted by the world”.
From a security point of view, the area – spread over six police stations – is “ultra-sensitive” and is one of the first to come under curfew whenever there is a challenge to Indian security in Jammu and Kashmir, including when there is a VIP visit from Delhi. However, there has been no discussion or any implementation about it since then.
Notably, AB Vajpayee in 2004, as NDA PM, extended hand of friendship with Pakistan from Srinagar and was vital in starting cross India-Pakistan bus services and other things.
The pellet is considered a non-lethal weapon but it can leave a victim maimed or blinded for life.
On the issue of 8-point agenda to solve Kashmir problem given by his predecessor P Chidambaram, Rajnath Singh said, “I will see the suggestions”.
Pakistan used Wani’s killing to needle India at the United Nations and issued statements where it accused India of atrocities in Kashmir.
The NC had boycotted an all-party meeting convened here on Thursday by Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti, to deliberate on the situation on the premise the PDP-BJP government is grappling in dark and “non serious” on the crisis.
National Conference Working President Omar Abdullah submitted a memorandum during his meeting with Home Minister.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh told lawmakers the government would set up a panel to look for an alternative to the pellet gun in response to questions about responses to a recent surge of violence in the occupied Kashmir region.
“I have asked the security forces to refrain from using pellet guns as much as possible”.
Rajnath has also volunteered to aid the injured in the state by offering them treatment at AIIMS in Delhi. “One more didn’t accept the offer”, the spokesperson had said.
Quoting profusely from Amir Khusro and former prime minister Atal Behari Vajpayee’s poems, Singh said Kashmir is India’s crown, adding that a plebiscite is irrelevant now.
“Process was going on and we will take up recruitment processes again”, he said.
Advertisement
Chief minister Mehbooba Mufti visited the border town of Kupwara to offer condolences to the families who have lost members in the unrest.
