Kashmir unrest: Rajnath Singh slams separatists, says their behaviour not ‘Kashmiriyat’

However, the Union Home Minister said, “Not only our doors, but our windows are also open for Kashmiris, who want to talk”. Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti also wrote letters.

Singh further said that some members of the delegation met with the leaders of the Hurriyat Conference. We neither said “Yes” nor “No” (to the move). You know what happened. He said everyone wished the situation to return to normalcy. It can not be called as Insaniyat (humanity). When someone goes for talks and they reject it, it is not jamhooriyat (democracy) as well.

The members of the all-party delegation headed by Rajnath Singh approached the Hurriyat leaders for peace talks on Sunday, however the separatists refused to engage in the talks.

Addressing a press conference, the Home Minister spoke tough and said, “J&K was and will remain an integral part of India”. It’s not been even two months and the suggestion of non-lethal PAVA shells has emerged. Once again cautioning the people at the power corridors of India, Hurriyat said that despite ruthlessness force and unparalled atrocities, you couldn’t weaken the Azadi sentiment of Kashmiries for 70 long years and you cannot be able to do so in future as well.

“The people attempted to talk to them, but they refused”, he said.

“The expert panel suggested the use of PAVA shells and I understand that no one can die from it”, Singh told reporters as fresh violence erupted in parts of the territory.

He said the country’s largest panchayat was Parliament and this panchayat was extremely serious about the situation in Kashmir.

“We met the political parties, civil society, university teachers, Vice Chancellors, fruit growers, students and some intellectuals”, he said.

He expressed optimism that the situation would improve.

Before leaving for Jammu region of the state, the CPI (M) leader, Sitaram Yechury, who was also part of the delegation, said the Centre must hold an unconditional dialogue with the Hurriyat and other stakeholders to bring about a permanent solution to the prevailing crisis.

Home minister Rajnath Singh said on Monday that the government is concerned about the situation in Jammu and Kashmir, adding “we all are of the view that things in Kashmir need to improve”.

These include representatives of Jammu Chamber of Commerce and Industry, trade lobbies, Jammu Bar Association, owners of hotels and lodges, tour and travel operators, Kashmiri migrant Pandits, representatives of West Pakistan refugees who are living in Jammu after since their displacement.

The delegation had come here to cool the volatile situation arising out of violent protests that have gripped the Valley since the killing of Hizbul militant Burhan Wani on July 8.