Home Minister Rajnath Singh, who is on a two-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir, met the state’s Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, and later joined her for a press conference on the escalating violence in the valley.
The two were barraged with a volley of hard-hitting questions on the worsening situation in the state. Mufti, seemingly annoyed at the questions, rebuffed allegations that she was ‘playing politics’ on the issue.
Mufti called the issue a political problem as she said that 95 percent of Kashmiris do not support the use of violence to express their concerns. She stressed that it was only a section of society with vested interests that was looking to plunge the valley into chaos for their own gain.
Rajnath Singh revealed that he held meetings with close to 20 delegations, meeting over 300 people during the course of the visit. He reiterated that he is extremely saddened by the situation, adding that the focus of his visit was on finding a solution to the crisis in Kashmir, in keeping with the ethos of ‘Kashmiriyat, Insaniyat and Jamhooriyat’.
Elaborating on the importance of finding a solution to the violence, Rajnath said that India’s future is linked to the future of Kashmir, and as such, restoring peace to the valley was of utmost importance for all involved parties.
He urged the Kashmiri youth to give up guns and stones, and pick up pens and computers, stressing that the ones who resort to violence must be helped. Calling the Kashmiri youth India’s own, he said, “Children are children. If they pick up stones, they must be counselled.”
Rajnath is on his second visit to the valley in a month, as the Centre looks to reach out to the people in the valley. The Home Minister earlier in the day met members of civil society who apprised him about the situation in the state, during which he was told that the Centre needs to initiate dialogue with all stakeholders to find a lasting solution to the problems plaguing Kashmir.
The Home Minister’s visit is an effort by the central government to restore normalcy in the Valley, which has been reeling under curfew and restrictions since trouble started.
(With agency inputs.)
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