Rajnath Singh leaves for 2-day Kashmir visit

New Delhi: Union Home Minister Shri Rajnath Singh has assured the National Security Guard (NSG) of upgrading their infrastructure and training needs. He said the commandos should train themselves and ensure when in operation they should kill the enemy and not get killed. Barring a few mainstream political parties in Jammu and Kashmir, nearly all the trade blocks in the Valley and the major civic society players have refused to meet Rajnath.

A youth today died in fresh clashes between protestors and security forces in Pulwama district of south Kashmir on a day Home Minister Rajnath Singh arrived here to review the situation.

He will also hold meetings with officials of civil and police administration, state and central intelligence agencies, CRPF and BSF officials. We requested him to start the dialogue process. Pellet guns continue to be used and civilian killings recur. “How can we talk under such circumstances?”

He would be staying at Srinagar’s Nehru guest house where he will interact with a cross section of people.

The attendance in government offices and banks was also affected, the official said. But the important players in the Valley, including trade and civil society players, had stayed away.

Kashmir Valley has been witnessing unrest after the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist Burhan Wani for the last 45 days.

“So many days have passed since the curfew has been imposed; they have not started the dialogue”.

“He will meet people in Srinagar”.

The association, in a statement, asked Amnesty International and other human rights organisations to intervene and send teams to Kashmir to evaluate the ground circumstances, holding that the Indian government tried is misleading people by claiming that only a fraction of the Valley demands freedom.

The opposition leaders warned the leadership here that a continuing unrest in the state will further alienate the people of Kashmir. Is Mehbooba Mufti agitating on the streets?

Rajnath is also likely to meet representatives of various political parties seeking their feedback on the Kashmir situation. “This a plan to sabotage the freedom movement in Kashmir”, chairman of Kashmir Economic Alliance, Yasin Khan told Firstpost. “I believe it’s the sense of “National Pride”, he said. I am with the people of Kashmir.

Singh’s two day visit comes close on the heels of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s meeting with opposition leaders of Kashmir.