Stating that the Centre is open for talks and will take the people of Kashmir and political parties into confidence, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday affirmed that his Government was working towards a “comprehensive, integrated and permanent solution” to the seven-decade-old Kashmir issue.
Rajnath blamed Pakistan for fomenting terror in Kashmir but maintained that the violence would not last long in the Valley.
Addressing a press conference here on the achievements of his Ministry on completion of three-years of the NDA Government, the Home Minister said the Centre was working for a “solid” and “permanent solution” to the Kashmir tangle, though it may take some time.
“The solution to the Kashmir problem cannot be found by just snapping our fingers. Kashmir is an old issue, it has been going on since 1947,” he said.
Rajnath was responding to a question on his recent statement that the Government was working on a permanent solution to the Kashmir issue.
“All problems can be resolved only through dialogue,” he said. “We are working for a permanent solution. I have said this with utmost responsibility, after much thinking and deliberations. We have some plans and are working in this direction and will find a solid solution in future. It may take some time,” he said.
When asked whether the “permanent solution” will be political or a military one, the Minister avoided a direct reply but said it will be a “comprehensive and integrated solution.”
On the possibility of initiating dialogue with Kashmiri separatists, the Minister said he has been advocating talks with all concerned ever since he took charge as Home Minister three years ago.
“From the beginning, I have been saying that we are ready for talks. Whoever comes forward for talks, we will talk. We are open to talks to find a solution to the Kashmir issue. All problems can be resolved only through dialogue,” he said.
The Home Minister blamed Pakistan for sponsoring terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir but stressed that the violence will not last long.
“There is no doubt, no confusion that Pakistani is fomenting terror in Kashmir. But we will ensure that terrorism is uprooted from Kashmir soon. The violence will not last long,” he said.
Rajnath said Pakistan has been sponsoring terrorism in Kashmir for its vested interests. “Whatever Pakistan is doing in Kashmir is a betrayal to the youths of the State,” he said, adding “we will not let them succeed in this.”
“We don't want to see stones in the hands of Kashmiri youths. We want to remove any stone which can impede their path to a brighter future,” the Minister said
Asked whether he supports the Army Major who recently used a local youth as “human shield” in Kashmir, the Minister said “The Army is doing its job.”
When he was reminded that that Urban Development Minister M Venkaiah Naidu had supported Major leetul Gogoi, who had tied a man to a jeep as a shield against stone-pelting, the Minister said “Whatever Naidu had said was correct.”
To a question whether the unrest in Kashmir was alarming, Rajnath said there were such situations in the past too. He said the situation would be brought under control and normalcy would prevail in the Valley.