Home Minister Rajnath Singh-led all-party delegation of parliamentarians on Monday concluded its two-day visit to Jammu & Kashmir with optimism that the ongoing situation would be tackled effectively by the Mehbooba Mufti-led coalition Government. The delegation, however, failed to cut ice with the Hurriyat-led separatists, as they refused to talk to a group of parliamentarians who had made a special effort to reach out to them on Sunday.
The Home Minister expressed displeasure over the separatists’ stubborn refusal to meet the MPs, saying their conduct was against jamhooriyat (democracy), insaniyat (humanity) and even Kashmiriyat (Kashmiri ethos). He, however, said the “doors are wide open” for talks with anyone interested in peace and normalcy.
Clarifying that the MPs’ abortive attempt to reach out to the separatists was their own initiative, independent of the all-party delegation’s mandate, the Singh said, “Some Members of Parliament had gone to meet the Hurriyat leaders. We had neither consented to nor denied (the initiative). But you know what happened there. I don’t want to get into details. But it can be said this indeed is not Kashmiriyat. It cannot be considered insaniyat. Somebody went for peace talks and there was no response. This is not even jamhooriyat.”
At a Press conference before leaving for a stopover at Jammu, Singh disagreed with the view that the mission was a failure and said the delegation had “very good interactions” with individuals and groups. The delegation would meet in Delhi and discuss the future action plan, he added.
Sending out a clear message to separatists, asserting that the State will “always” remain an integral part of India, Singh said “There should be no two opinions that Jammu & Kashmir was, is and will always be an integral part of India.” “As far as talks are concerned, our doors are open to everyone who wants peace and normalcy. Not only doors, even our ventilators are open for talks,” he added.
Singh said that the Central Government was not part of Chief Minister Mufti’s letter to Hurriyat leaders inviting them to engage with the all-party delegation on their chosen time and venue. “I have been told that Mehbooba had sent letters (to Hurriyat leaders)”, he said and clarified that it was her own initiative as the PDP president.
He said the country’s largest panchayat was Parliament and this panchayat was extremely serious about the situation in Kashmir. “This is the reason that the Parliament decided to send a delegation of 26 members belonging to 20 political parties to visit Kashmir that met around 300 people in 30 delegations,” he said.
“The Central Government is cooperating with the State Government and the J&K Government is trying to improve the situation,” he said.
However, he denied any talks on different backchannel tracks.
The Home Minister parried reference to the anti-India protests and cycle of violence in Kashmir Valley that erupted soon after the encounter of Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist Burhan Wani by security forces, resulting in many injuries and deaths of civilians as well as security forces.
However, he announced that chilli-based PAVA cells would replace the pellet guns that have been cited as the primary reason for numerous injuries in Kashmir.
“When I had come here on July 24 and 25, people complained to me about the pellet guns. I had then said that I was instituting a committee to decide on an alternative in two months. It’s not even been two months and the suggestion of non-lethal PAVA shells has emerged.
I believe those won’t cause any deaths or injure to people,” he said, adding “yesterday one thousand PAVA shells have arrived.”
“Discussions with the delegations have been fine. I appeal to the media friends that the situation in Kashmir is a cause of concern. We need the support of everyone,” he said.
When asked whether the proposals like NC’s autonomy and PDP’s self-rule were likely to be considered for resolution of Kashmir, he said that he does not want to involve into the discussions of who has proposed what in the past.
On whether the Government is willing to speak to Pakistan, he said, “let’s first speak to those in the country.”
The 26-member delegation included Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, MoS in PMO Dr Jetendra Singh, Sanjay Rawat (Shiv Sena), Anandrao Adusa (Shiv Sena), Thota Narasimhan (TDP), Ramvilas Paswan (JSJP), Prem Singh Chandumajra (SAD), Biswajit Daimary (BFP). From the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) included Mallikarjan Kharge (INC), Gulam Nabi Azad (INC), Ambika Soni (INC) and Tariq Anwar (NCP) while others from the prominent political parties included Dr P Venugopal (AIADMK), Prof Saugata Roy (AITC), Dilip Tirkey, AP Jithender Reddy (TRS), Sitaram Yedchury (CPIM), Sharad yadav (JDU), Jay Prakash Narayan Yadav (RJD), D Raja (CPI), Badruddin Ajmal (AIUDF), Dushyant Chautala (INlD), Asaduddin Owaisi (AIMIM), Dharamvira Gandhi (AAP), E Ahmad (IUMl), MK Premchandran (RSP) and Tiruchi Siva (DMK).
Meanwhile, reacting to Rajnath Singh’s Press conference, Hurriyat Conference said that the Government of India never officially invited Hurriyat and “at the same time blame us of rejecting the offer”.
“It is not only shameful but speaks volumes about their truthfulness, sincerity and clarity,” Hurriyat said in a statement.
“India is scared of any meaningful dialogue with Hurriyat and Pakistan, as they have occupied this land illegally and forcefully by their military might using repeated lies and unabated surplus violence,” the statement added.