Rajnath to undertake 2-day visit to Kashmir

Prime Minister Modi, in his Independence Day speech, had said that he was thanked by the people of Balochistan and Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir, including Gilgit-Baltistan, for flagging their problems.

This is the second visit of Singh in a month to the valley where unrest has been continuing for 47 days ever since Hizbul Mujahedeen terrorist Burhan Wani was killed in an encounter with security forces on July 8.

He said Mirwaiz called upon them to take the situation in the Valley seriously and use their offices to get this issue on the table for an “imaginative solution”.

“He will meet people in Srinagar”.

BJP wants the Mehbooba Mufti government to act tough against those taking the lead in organising violent protests in Kashmir, asserting that it will have to deal firmly with radical elements to end the ongoing unrest. Some vehicles also plied on the roads, residents said.

Shops and business establishments, however, remained closed across the city for the 46th day in a row. Separatist leaders have asked people to continue the shutdown till August 25. Authorities also continued with their restrictions in many parts of the troubled Kashmir Valley where life remained paralysed. Following clashes and stone pelting, the security forces opened fire in which a teenager was killed. “Eleven people were injured”, a police officer said in Srinagar, adding three of the injured were evacuated to a Srinagar hospital.

Expressing her resolve to establish a new system of justice and equality in the state, she said the aim of her party is to script a new chapter in the political history of the state by removing trust deficit among different regions.

In the meeting that lasted almost 45 minutes, the delegation urged the Home Minister to immediately ban use of pellet guns as a crowd control means in Kashmir.

The PM’s reconciliatory tone ahead of Singh’s visit to Kashmir raised expectations about the possibility of engagement with Hurriyat leaders.

Before leaving for Kashmir, the home minister said he will hold talks with all stakeholders and those who believe in “Kashmiriyat, Insaniyat and Jamhooriyat” are welcome.