Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday appealed to Kashmiris to help in restoration of peace and normalcy in the Valley.
Asserting that the issues of disagreement and conflict can be resolved through dialogue, he urged the youth not to indulge in stone pelting and asked security forces to refrain from using pellet guns as much as possible even as he regretted the loss of lives.
“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.
He had arrived to oversee the security situation in Kashmir and hold talks with various political and civil society groups. The killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Muzaffar Wani on July 8 had led to unprecedented protests in the Valley.
Singh said the Centre does not want need-based relations but “emotional relations” with Kashmiris. He said that he and Prime Minister Narendra Modi are “really” concerned about the situation in Kashmir and offer sympathy to the families of those who have lost their lives.
The Minister said there is no need to involve any third party for the restoration of normalcy in Kashmir.
“No third power is required for making the situation better in Kashmir,” he said, adding, the Government of India would not tolerate terrorism.
“I want to tell the neighbouring country that it is also suffering from terrorism. You conducted operation to flush out terrorists from lal Masjid but you appeal Kashmiri youth to take up guns. This tendency must come to an end,” he said.
“Pakistan’s role is not clear and correct. Pakistan must change its attitude and must stop interfering in India’s internal matters,” he added.
The Home Minister said the only place in democracy for the Kashmiriyat is the place of humanity.
Singh said that all concrete, tangible and corrective measures would be taken to bring peace and normalcy in Kashmir. “Watch out what is going to happen in future. Whatever is to be done shall be done in consultation with the State Government,” he added.
Expressing sympathies with the families of deceased and those injured in the current unrest, Rajnath Singh assured all support to facilitate treatment of all injured children at AIIMS in Delhi. He said if a plane is required to airlift patients to Delhi, it will be kept at disposal “to treat all the injured children”.
During his two-day visit, Home Minister met over 30 delegations representing cross section of people, trade, business, mainstream political parties and individuals. He also had extensive discussions with Governor NN Vohra and Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and her Cabinet. He was also briefed by Central And State security agencies about the overall security situation in Kashmir. Rajnath Singh also visited Anantnag in South Kashmir where maximum number of deaths took place during the security forces’ campaign in quelling the public uprising.
National Conference Working President Omar Abdullah submitted a memorandum during his meeting with Home Minister. The Party hoped the Central Government considers the consequences of refusing to acknowledge the political sentiment in Kashmir and takes immediate measures to initiate a sustained political dialogue with Pakistan and internal dialogue with stakeholders and a cross section of leadership in the Valley. The Party said a continued failure to address the growing political alienation in Kashmir goes against the interests of the people of India.
“The Union Government should initiate a sustained dialogue process with Pakistan as well as internal stakeholders, including the leadership of the Hurriyat Conference and other groups in the Valley with an aim to evolve a consensus towards a mutually acceptable solution to the political issue,” the NC memorandum reads.
The party demanded judicial probe in mishandling of the situation in the aftermath of Burhan Wani’s killing.
Meanwhile, the normal life remained paralysed on the 16th consecutive day on Sunday. Another youth injured on July 10 (from Khunmoh Srinagar) succumbed to his injuries at a hospital taking the death toll to 45 including two women. Two policemen have also died during the unrest. The separatist leaders Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Yasin Malik who are spearheading a shutdown campaign have issued fresh calendar of shutdown and protests till July 29.