More than a year after Home Minister Rajnath Singh-led a parliamentary delegation to douse flames of dissent in Kashmir, he is again arriving in Srinagar on Saturday to pick up threads by reaching out to stakeholders in the embattled region. Following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s positive vibes about Kashmir in his Independence Day speech, the Home Minister’s 4-day visit, the longest of any Home Minister so far, has generated interest among the people.
Even as the ground situation remained volatile amid an exhaustive crackdown on separatists and their associates by the NIA, the people are expecting a breakthrough to end months of uncertainty and turmoil in the region.
The NIA is probing terror funding from across the border to fuel secessionist activities in Kashmir. The probe has entered fourth month.
Rajnath is arriving in the backdrop of Modi’s Independence Day speech in which he said that solution to Kashmir problem would emerge from hugging people rather than throwing bullets and abuses on them. Sources said soon after arriving in Srinagar, Rajnath would hold separate meetings with Governor NN Vohra and Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti for a detailed discourse on ground situation on the borders and hinterland of Kashmir, economic issues and pace of development.
On Sunday, the Home Minister would take a detailed meeting of security agencies.
Observers say that the most striking aspect of the Home Minister’s visit would be the possibility of his reach out to separatists. Singh has indicated that he would be open for talks with all stakeholders.
Rajnath is also expected to travel to south Kashmir to interact with people, including the kin of the victims of recent violence. The South Kashmir visit is significant because it has remained the Center of secessionist activities, militancy and fresh recruitments to the militant ranks, since the killing of Burhan Wani on July 8, 2016.
The Home Ministers’ visit is also important in the backdrop of political uncertainty that emerged after the litigation on article 35A in the Supreme Court that guarantees special status and privileges to the citizens of the state. Political parties of all hues in Kashmir have expressed resentment on the looming threat to the special status.
The opposition parties as also the ruling PDP would be keen to know about the center’s response on the Article 35A issue. “Every Kashmiri is expecting some breakthrough so that the situation returns to normal. Violence is not in our blood but we are caught in the quagmire. A political solution can prevent more bloodshed in Kashmir and safeguard the future generations,” Muhamad Amin, a trader in Pulwama said.
Meanwhile, protests were held in Anantnag against the alleged prosecution of Muslims in Myanmar, which led to clashes between police and the protersters. The separatists had called for protests in support of the Muslims in Myanmar. The authorities imposed curbs in old Srinagar to prevent protests.