The Centre may harden its attitude towards separatist leaders in Jammu and Kashmir, making their foreign travel difficult and scaling down the security.
Miffed over the cold shoulder treatment given by separatists to the Centre’s all-party delegation that visited the state, the government is considering moves to curb their foreign travel by withdrawing their passports and denying travel documents in some cases, besides scrutinising their bank accounts and completing pending investigations in cases against the separatists.
The moves are aimed at sending a strong message that those provoking youths in Kashmir Valley to create disturbance since the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani on 8 July will not be spared, government sources said.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) general secretary Ram Madhav on Wednesday rebuffed demands for a “political solution” to the Kashmir issue, suggesting that it was a mere “slogan” raised by “romantic” people.
Madhav asserted that those who do not believe in the Indian Constitution will be dealt with firmly.
We need a particular security culture in this country. This we terribly lack. As a nation we are a romantic people. We are very happy with slogans. We do not know what we mean when we make statements. Every leader tirelessly makes this statement that we have to have a political solution...Political solution is simple and final that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India.Ram Madhav, General Secretary, BJP
Madhav, along with Minister of State (MoS) at the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), has been at the forefront of government efforts to maintain peace in the Valley.
PM Modi Agreed to Home Ministry’s Firm Stand: Sources
Prime Minister Narendra Modi reportedly gave a nod to the Home Ministry’s firm stand, in order to convey that time has come to act tough with the separatists, sources said.
CPI(M)’s Sitaram Yechury, Sharad Yadav of JD(U), Jaiprakash Narayan Yadav of RJD, AIMIM’s Asaduddin Owaisi and D Raja of CPI had gone to meet Hurriyat leaders. However, the Hurriyat leadership refused to hold talks with the parliamentarians.
After the Hurriyat leaders refused to meet members of the Central all party delegation, Home Minister Rajnath Singh said in a statement that the behaviour was representative of neither Kashmiriyat nor insaniyat.
Need for Governance
Sources said there was a feeling in the government that the lack of governance was a major concern for Jammu and Kashmir and that it needs to be addressed.
The source also said that the students, parents and the middle class were getting restless and wanted the cycle of violence to end.
The final decision on these issues, however, will be taken after the all-party delegation, which visited the troubled state, meets in Delhi on Wednesday and consultations are held at the highest level of the government.
(With inputs from PTI.)
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