Congress hails Rajnath Singh’s Kashmir visit, hopes for logical outcome

Home Minister Rajnath Singh indicated in Kashmir today that the government is ready to talk to separatists and also said an alternative to pellet guns would be announced soon.

On the contentious use of pellet guns as crowd control mechanism, the Home Minister said the report of the expert committee on this is expected within three to four days.

“95 per cent people want peaceful solution through dialogue, only five per cent derailing the process”.

The Home Minister, who is accompanied by Union Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi, earlier tweeted that he would interact with civil society groups, political parties and other stakeholders in Kashmir.

A spokesman of Mirwaiz Umar Farooq’s Hurriyat said Mr. Singh’s remarks showed India was in denial.

Amid intense pro-freedom slogans, the APHC Chairman pointed out that such moves were only to trap the youth and detract them from the present movement otherwise they were least bothered for their welfare. “And I appeal to Kashmiri people to identify those who are creating trouble”.

# Without the future of Kashmir, the future of India can not exist: HM Rajnath Singh. “I have asked the state government to make all preparations for that”.

Commenting on Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh’s ongoing two-day visit to Kashmir, JD (U) leader K.C. Tyagi told ANI that there has been no positive outcome from his visits so far.

“There is much at stake and risk”, he added.

IHK has been on the edge since July 8 when Indian security forces gunned down Burhan Wani, leader of separatist outfit Hizbul Mujahideen.

As many as 66 civilians have been killed in clashes between protesters and security forces, and thousands more injured in the worst violence to hit the Himalayan region since 2010. Besides injuries, hundreds of people have been also left blinded in pellet firing.

Rajnath said that the government is trying to find a solution to the problem and that their understanding of the situation must not be questioned.

Irked by the comparison drawn between the two situations, angry Mehbooba asked a reporter not to compare the two situations. In 2010, there was a reason. Three civilians were killed. “How is the government to be blamed?” she asked.

He said the Centre wanted to see the killings in Kashmir come to an end and sought cooperation from people from all walks in this regard.

Mehbooba said Kashmiri youths are being used by some elements as shields to attack Army camps as “they want our children to suffer”. Was the 15-year-old boy, who attacked the police station at Damhal Hanjipora (in south Kashmir), going there to get milk.

The use of pellet guns by security forces to quell the demonstrations has flooded hospitals with victims and triggered huge anger in Kashmir. He was smiling and, in fact, tried to pacify the chief minister and then reluctantly stoop up as Ms Mufti was already on her feet and while leaving, invited the journalists to have tea but in som-ewhat disrespectful way.