HM Visit fails to enthuse Kashmir

News Kashmir Analysis

 

 

Keeping in view the continued violence and unrest of Kashmir in mind the Home Minister Rajnath Singh was recently on a two day visit to Kashmir, his second visit in a month. As Kashmir unrest is on verge of completing two months post the killing of militant Commander Burhan Wani, the Home Minister invited all the stakeholders to talk within framework of humanity and democracy.

Pertinently, the vast section of civil society and entire pro-freedom leadership declined to meet Home Minister Rajnath Singh, and it was seen by many analysts as a blow to efforts of vast outreach in solving kashmir.

In the joint Press conference on Thursday , August 25 by Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and Home Minister Rajnath Singh when asked whether the government would talk to the separatist Hurriyat leaders, Mr Singh said: “We are willing to talk to anyone within the scope of Kashmiriyat, Jamooriyat and Insaniyat.”

As the demand for visit by all party delegation is being found on ground zero he said that an all-party delegation would visit Kashmir soon and asked the state government to make preprations for same.

Pertinently, an officer will be appointed to tackle problems of Kashmiris outside the state, the home minister added.

On pellet gun

On the burning issue of pellet gun Home Minister Rajnath Singh said that they will soon announce a substitute to pellet guns in Kashmir. He said the committee formed to look into the issue of pellet guns will submit its report within two to four days.

 

Chief Ministers controversial words

Importantly, the Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti got angry and asked a reporter not to compare the situations of 2010 and 2016.

 

“You are wrong. What happened in 2010 had a reason. There was a fake encounter in Machil. Three civilians were killed. Today three militants were killed in an encounter and how is the government to be blamed for that.”

 

 

She said that people came out on the roads after the July 8 killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani even though the government had imposed a strict curfew.

 

 

“Had a kid gone to buy a toffee from an army camp? A 15-year-old boy who attacked a police station (in south Kashmir), had he gone to buy milk? Don’t compare the two,” she said

 

 

Condemning the joint press conference of Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and Indian Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Nayeem Khan, Senior profreedom leader  stated -” Rajnath Singh visit has been a mere eyewash tactics.  If Mehbooba believes only five percent people are participating in agitation than why to shun away from referendum,and this is simply cruel, misleading, illogical statement. Calling for employing 10000 SPOs is a shameless policy of arrogance of power and aims at legalising state terrorism via these private militias. Kashmir is not law and order problem but a mass movement for referendum.

Surprisingly, MLA Langate Engineer Rashid during his meet with Home Minister Rajnath Singh urged on having plebiscite . He stated – “Kashmir can’t be ruled under the barrel of gun but blinding and maiming Kashmiris has only strengthened the sentiment of plebiscite.”

On holistic paradigm Home Minister Rajnath Singh Visit looked to be a lackluster visit.