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

At least 74 persons have been killed and over 12,000 injured in Kashmir.

Kashmir unrest: Rajnath Singh slams separatists, says their behaviour not 'Kashmiriyat'
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Srinagar: Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday lashed out at Hurriyat leaders in Kashmir, who refused to talk to some MPs from an all-party team, saying their conduct defied the spirit of kashmiriyat, insaniyat (humanity) and jamhooriyat (democracy).

However, Singh asserted that "the doors and windows for dialogue" on Kashmir were always open but ruled out any talks with Pakistan on the issue in near future saying, "Let us first talk with the people within our country".

In response to another question, the Home Minister said he did not want to go into the debate about back channel talks with the separatists or appointment of a fresh team of interlocutors on Kashmir.

"Track one, Track Two, Track Three... I do not want to get into this debate," he said.

"There are no two opinions that Jammu and Kashmir was, is and will remain an integral part of India. I know people of Kashmir also want this," Singh said, as per PTI.

At the same time, the HM made it clear that MPs Sharad Yadav, Sitaram Yechury, D Raja, Jay Prakash Narayan and Assaduddin Owaisi went to meet the separatist leaders in their individual capacity and not as part of the all-party delegation that was on a two-day trip to Jammu and Kashmir.

"Some members of the delegation went to meet Hurriyat leaders. We had neither said 'no' nor 'yes' to their meetings. You know what happened. They had gone there in their individual capacity," he told reporters here before flying to Jammu.

He was referring to the attempt by the national Opposition leaders from the delegation to hold talks with top Kashmiri separatists on Sunday.

While other separatist leaders did meet them briefly but refused to hold talks, hardliner Syed Ali Shah Geelani shut his door on the MPs even as they kept waiting outside his upscale Hyderpora residence for about 10 minutes.

This, Rajnath Singh said, "was certainly neither 'Kashmiriyat' nor 'insaniyat' (humane). If you do not want to talk is a different thing. But what they did proves they have no faith in democracy," as per IANS.

Singh added that the situation in J&K will improve and everyone who met the delegation had expressed this wish.

"Everyone we met has the wish that situation in Kashmir should improve.... I am convinced that the situation in Jammu and Kashmir will improve," he said.

Giving details about the engagements of the all-party delegation, Singh said they interacted with more than 30 delegations comprising 300 persons from different walks of life.

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

He said the delegation also interacted with state Governor N N Vohra, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and officials of the state government yesterday.

Referring to his July visit to Kashmir at the start of the unrest in Kashmir, Singh said there was a demand for ban on pellet guns from the people he met.

"We formed an expert committee which was mandated to submit a report on alternative to pellet guns within two months. The committee gave its report ahead of time and now PAVA has come.

"I understand that no one will lose life due to use of PAVA," he said.

The HM said that to address concerns of Kashmiri youths living in different parts of the country the ministry has appointed Dr Sanjay Rai as nodal officer who can be approached on phone numbers 011-23092923, 23092885. 

The all-party delegation arrived here on Sunday, nearly two months after a bloody unrest erupted in the aftermath of the July 8 killing of Hizbul Mujahideen 'commander' Burhan Wani.

At least 74 persons have been killed and over 12,000 injured in the weeks of the turmoil, the deadliest Kashmir has seen in six years.

(With Agency inputs)

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