Ready for peace talks: Rajnath
Youth told to stop stone-pelting, cops to restrict pellet gun use
Union home minister Rajnath Singh, speaking to the media here at the end of a two-day visit to Kashmir, said on Sunday that the Centre will talk to “whosoever is needed” to find a solution to the issues once peace and normality are restored in the Valley. He also sought to make it clear that the Union Government wants not only to have a relationship with Kashmir based on its needs but also strike an “emotional chord” with its people. “We want to build an emotional relationship with Kashmir, not one based only on needs,” he said.
“I appeal to the youth of Kashmir not to indulge in stonepelting and security forces should avoid use of pellet guns as far as possible,” he said.
Mr Singh accused Pakistan of encouraging terrorism and militancy in Jammu and Kashmir, and said: “Pakistan’s role is not pak (pure) in relation to Kashmir. They need to change their behaviour.”
Mr Singh ruled out the possibility of involving a third country in seeking a solution to the Kashmir issue, saying: “We don’t want third-party involvement to address the situation in Kashmir. The Government of India is clear on this.”
Union home minister Rajnath Singh said on Sunday that the Centre will talk to “whosoever is needed” to find a solution to the issues once peace and normality is restored in the Valley.
The minister was on a marathon two-day visit to the Valley for an onthe-spot assessment of the law and order situation, which had deteriorated with each passing day after the killing of a militant commander earlier this month.
The minister Mr Singh, while “regretting” the loss of over 50 lives in security forces’ firings and other action, said: “Our government and the Prime Minister are concerned about the Kashmir situation, but let peace and normality be restored and only then we will talk about it (dialogue).”
The home minister said that Islamabad was killing militants inside its own territory but is asking Kashmiri youths to take up guns. “We won’t tolerate militancy in any way. Kashmir will be an abode of humanity,” he pledged.
“We don’t want third party involvement to address the situation prevailing in Kashmir. Government of India is clear on it,” the union minister said.