Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, along with several ministers of her government, met Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday. Singh is on a two-day visit to the Valley to take stock of the situation in the wake of deadly clashes that have left 46 people dead and 3,400 others injured.
Mehbooba led the government delegation that called on Singh after the Home Minister had met representatives from ruling PDP, BJP and opposition National Conference separately.
In a memorandum to the Home Minister, the National Conference expressed deep disappointment at the Centre’s failure to recognise the problem in Kashmir “as a political problem which requires political engagement – both internally and externally.”
While it was “palpable and shocking” to see the continued failure of the state government in dealing with the situation, “it would be a travesty to simplify the current unrest in the Valley as a pure law and order issue,” the party said.
It said the tried and tested formulations of New Delhi in dealing with political sentiment in Kashmir “operatively and militarily”, rather than “thinking out of the box”, has further exacerbated the situation and created an unprecedented sense of disaffection and cynicism – especially among the youth – that could have adverse long-term implications.
The delegation hoped that the Centre would consider the consequences of refusing to acknowledge the political sentiment in Kashmir and take immediate steps to initiate a sustained political dialogue with Pakistan and internal dialogue with stakeholders and a cross-section of leadership in the Valley.
Registering its anguish over the painful loss of lives in the Valley in the current unrest, the NC condemned the PDP-BJP’s state Government’s “evident insensitivity and blatant inefficiency in dealing with this heart-rending situation.”
Commenting on the issue, Rajnath Singh said:
I want to make it clear that Government of India does not only want to have a relationship based on needs with Kashmir, but also an emotional relationship. We will constitute an expert committee to find out ways to use of non-lethal weapon. The committee will submit a report in two months. We don’t need third party’s involvement to address the situation that prevails in Jammu and Kashmir.Rajnath Singh, Home Minister
He further said:
There is no need of any third force to improve situation in Kashmir. Pakistan should not interfere in internal matters of India.
Curfew remained in force in five districts of Kashmir and some parts of the summer capital as a precautionary measure, following an uneasy calm that prevailed in the Valley. Normal life was paralysed in Kashmir for the 16th consecutive day on Sunday.
Clashes broke out between protesters and security forces following the killing of militant commander Burhan Wani in an encounter on 8 July 2016.
(With PTI and ANI inputs.)
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)