Soon after his return from the five-nation Africa tour, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday chaired a high-level meeting to review the situation in violence-hit Kashmir Valley, even as he appealed to the people of the State to maintain calm and expressed hope that no innocent person faces inconvenience or loss.
On his part, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh cancelled his US trip for the India-US Homeland Security Dialogue scheduled to start on July 17, not just in view of the volatile situation in Jammu & Kashmir, but also to brief Parliament on the issue as the Monsoon Session commences on July 18. New dates have not been fixed, but the trip now may take place sometime in September, officials said.
Rajnath Singh also met a group of Imams, who urged him to help restore peace in the Valley
“The Prime Minister has appealed to the people of Jammu & Kashmir to maintain peace so that the situation can normalise. He also expressed the hope that no innocent person would face any kind of inconvenience or loss,” Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office Jitendra Singh said after the meeting.
The PM was given a detailed presentation of the situation prevailing in the Valley that has been on the boil since the killing of terror-group Hizbul Mujahideen’s commander Burhan Wani, on Friday. Agency reports said Modi is believed to have expressed unhappiness over the media coverage on the violence and portrayal of terrorist Burhan Wani as a “hero” giving more traction to his followers to whip up frenzy.
The PM said that over a dozen cases were registered against Wani, most of which were serious in nature, under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. The meeting also reviewed the Rs 80,000 crore financial package announced by the NDA Government for Jammu & Kashmir and its implementation.
Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar briefed Modi on Pakistan’s response to Wani’s death, including the statement issued by Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, statement by their Foreign Office and summoning of Indian High Commissioner Gautam Bambawale by the Foreign Office in Islamabad.
Meanwhile, sources said, the Home Ministry was worried over the situation in Kashmir Valley escalating in the next few days as July 13 is commemorated as “Martyrs Day” in Kashmir and Friday brings Jumma ki namaz.
Intelligence agencies have reported that Pakistan-supported groups are planning to incite violence in the next two days, sources said.
Rajnath Singh, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, MoS in the PMO Jitendra Singh, National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar were among others who attended the meeting, wherein the Prime Minister also expressed satisfaction over the progress of the Amarnath Yatra and said the Centre will provide whatever help is needed by the State Government.
Meanwhile, the Muslim clerics who held a meeting with the Home Minister, said that they would be meeting Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and local clerics of the State in an attempt to help restore calm to the Valley.
“We had detailed discussions with the Home Minister over the prevailing situation in Kashmir. We have urged him to ensure that calm and peace returns to the Valley. Just like Muslims from any other part of the country, Kashmiris are also our brothers. We are with them and appeal to them to bring normalcy and peace,” Umer Ahmed Ilyasi of All India Organisation of Imams of Mosques said after the meeting.