Rajnath begins Kashmir visit, major trade bodies skip meet

Zero steps have been taken by the government in the past. Even if we had met the home minister what could we have said apart from: please stop the killings. ASHRAF MIR, Federation of Commerce and Industry, Kashmir president

SRINAGAR: Union home minister Rajnath Singh began his twoday Kashmir visit on Saturday to give a healing touch to the restive Valley, with two trade bodies boycotting him as curfew was lifted from four districts and parts of Srinagar town but remained in force in other areas as a precautionary measure.

Barring stray incidents of stone-pelting, the day passed off peacefully.

As the situation in the troubled Valley, which was on the boil for several days following the killing of militant commander Burhan Wani on July 8 in an encounter with security forces, somewhat eased, home minister Rajnath Singh began his visit of the state to take stock of the situation.

Singh landed in Srinagar at around noon, accompanied by a team of senior home ministry officials and directors-general (DGs) of central paramilitary forces. Government sources said that Singh met a few entrepreneurs, some owners of houseboats and common people on Saturday in a bid to reach out.

Singh met BJP ministers in the Mehbooba Mufti government, including deputy chief minister Nirmal Singh.

A group of Muslim clerics also met Singh at the highsecurity Nehru Guest House. A delegation of Shikarawalas and houseboat owners also called on the home minister and apprised him of their problems.

A home ministry release said Singh will meet governor N N Vohra and Mehbooba Mufti later on Saturday. Mehbooba was away meeting families of those killed in action by security forces when Singh arrived here.

Major trade bodies of Kashmir skipped a meeting with Rajnath Singh. Several trade bodies including the Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) opted out of the meeting.

Trade body officials HT spoke to said they decided to stay away because in the past a number of such meetings have yielded no results and “killings of Kashmiris have continued”. Mushtaq Ahmad Wani, president of the KCCI, accused security forces of human rights violation. He said trade bodies have demanded that security officials should be made accountable for the killing of civilians and pellet guns banned.