‘Right-minded people needed for J&K talks’
SRINAGAR: Union home minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday reiterated call for talks with “rightminded” people and not necessarily “like-minded people” while asking people to come forward for the sake of peace and future generations. Singh, on a two-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir, chaired a high level security review meeting in which the impact of the unilateral Ramzan ceasefire on the ground was discussed with top security officials and chief minister Mehbooba Mufti.
“On the occasion of Ramzan, PM (Narendra Modi), after deliberation, decided for suspension of operations keeping in mind the people’s feeling and suffering,” Singh said, adding that some forces are trying make “our children” should go astray.
While confirming that the government was open to talks with anyone interested in a solution for J&K, Singh added, “It is not necessary to be like-minded for talks, but it is necessary to be right-minded.”
Singh said Dineshwar Sharma, the Centre-appointed special representative, had visited J&K 11 times as the government is intent upon talking to all stakeholders. “The solution of the Kashmir problem won’t take much time now...” he said.
“Today PM Modi said we want the solution by hugging. What do you want? ...’’ Without pointing fingers at anyone in particular, Singh lamented that there are those who want “our children” to play with “fire and stone”. “I want to appeal from the core of my heart that consider J&K’S children as your own,” said Singh. “Whatever politics you want to play, let it not be at the cost of children. These children are not only the future of J&K, but of the entire nation.”
In a veiled reference to separatist leadership, Singh said providing education to one set of children and then handing stones to others is not humanity. “What sort of justice is this? Is this humanity? There should be impartiality in every work,” he said. Singh reiterated that charges would be dropped against minors accused of stone pelting, including first-time offenders. In February 2018, the J&K government had announced that cases would be withdrawn against 9,730 people who had been charged with stone-pelting between 2008 and 2017. The government also recommended giving amnesty to more than 4,000 people allegedly involved in cases of stone pelting.
On the possibility of an extension of the ceasefire, Singh said, “We will sit, talk to the CM and review the security situation. I cannot rule out any possibility...” He said the ceasefire had received a “positive” response so far.