The Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh-led all-party delegation of parliamentarians arrived here on Sunday for political intervention to ebb out the current unrest in Kashmir Valley. The separatist leaders even rebuffed attempts by five Opposition MPs, including Sitaram Yechury of the CPM and Asaduddin Owaisi of the MIM, of the all-party delegation to reach out to them.
The delegation arrived amid a complete shutdown in the Valley, with capital Srinagar looking like a ghost city and massive protests and clashes occurring in several parts of rural Kashmir.
While mainstream political parties lined up for an audience with the parliamentarians, separatist leaders spearheading the protests spurned the initiative by some non-BJP MP's to reach out to them and refused to meet them.
The separatists said they can’t take part in the talks within the ambit of the Indian Constitution.
The delegation began deliberations at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Convention Center (SKICC) at around noon. An officer who escorted the delegation to a five-star property in Srinagar before their arrival at SKICC told The Pioneer that the cavalcade drove through a deserted road, dotted with the police and paramilitary jawans.
The mosques were blaring songs and slogans of freedom as link roads were blocked with razor wire to stop protesters from reaching the main road. The separatists had called a blockade of the road leading to the Srinagar airport. The separatists have extended the shutdown programme to September 8.
Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti was the first to brief the delegation about the prevailing situation in Kashmir. Accompanied by Deputy Chief Minister Dr Nirmal Singh and Finance Minister Haseeb Drabu, Mehbooba told the delegation that Kashmir was a common issue of national interest and should not be viewed as a political issue.
An official spokesman said that Mehbooba appreciated the consensus among the delegation members that steps need to be taken to restore peace in Kashmir at the earliest.
Mehbooba thanked the team for visiting the State to listen to the problems of the people, besides holding discussions on the issue in Parliament. She stressed that the media needs to be sensitive while reporting on the current happenings in Kashmir.
The delegation’s visit took an interesting turn in the post-lunch session when Sitaram Yechury, Sharad Yadav, Asaduddin Owaisi, D Raja, Rajgopal Narayan and Fayaz Mir went to meet the separatists. Octogenarian Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Geelani, who is detained at his Hyderpora residence and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Yasin Malik, detained at Cheshma Shahi and Humhama respectively, refused to meet them.
J&K CM Mehbooba Mufti had sent letters on Saturday urging them to meet the parliamentarians to find a resolution to the problems in Kashmir. However, the separatists declined the offer.
A cavalcade of official cars stopped at Geelani's residence only to find the doors shut from inside. While they waited outside for about ten minutes, a large number of men, women and youth reached Geelani's residence and started a peaceful protest and raised pro-freedom slogans.
Earlier, Farooq was approached by Owaisi but he politely refused to talk to him. Yasin Malik, also refused to talk to delegation members Yechury, Sharad Yadav and D Raja.
"We had come to talk and listen to Geelani's viewpoint. But he didn't open the door," said Yechury, adding, "It's only through talks that we can move forward."
However, the State Government highlighted various issues related to the current scenario in J&K and sought a "clear roadmap" with a focus on the way forward to address the issues. "The Government also said it would consider the recommendations of Working Groups and Parliamentary delegations that have arrived in Kashmir in the past."
The delegation also met representatives of political parties who expressed concern over the injuries to civilians due to the use of pellet guns. Rajnath Singh said that Government had already approved the use of PAVA shells in place of the pellet guns.
The National Conference, led by Omar Abdullah, Indian National Congress led by Ghulam Ahmad Mir, PDP led by Sartaj Madni, Peoples Conference led by Sajad Gani lone, Communist Party of India (M) led by MY Tarigami, Awami Itihaad Party led by Sheikh Abdul Rashid, Peoples Democratic Front led by Hakim Yaseen, Democratic Party Nationalist led by Ghulam Hassan Mir and BJP led by state President Sat Sharma met the delegation.
Speaking to the media after the interaction, Omar Abdullah regretted that such delegations have visited Kashmir in the past but their recommendations were never pursued. He said Mehbooba was confused and exhibited contradiction in every step and initiative. He said Kashmir was a political issue with its historic perspective and it should be dealt with through a sustained political process. Omar ridiculed the CM's comment that only 5 per cent of the population was protesting in Kashmir.
Sources said around 200 people, comprising about 30 delegations, consisting of academicians, teachers and student associations, representatives of school managements, NGOs, representatives of leh, Kargil, Pahari associations, Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee, fruit and saffron growers associations and civil society also met the delegation.
The delegation held a dinner meeting with Governor NN Vohra later in the evening.
Meanwhile, around 400 people were reportedly injured in clashes in south, central, north and Srinagar areas on Sunday. Protesters set ablaze the newly-built mini secretariat in south Kashmir's Shopian. Police said the structure suffered partial damage. Amid clashes and pro-freedom protests in Tral town of Pulwama district, protesters reportedly attacked the residence of PDP leader and MlA Mushtaq Ahmad Shah by hurling stones.
A police statement said that ten incidents of stone pelting were reported from Srinagar, Anantnag, Pulwama, Kulgam, Shopian, Awantipora and Sopore.