Rajnath’s signals welcome

Union home minister Rajnath Singh, who was in Kashmir recently, has indicated there is no roadmap to bring peace to the Valley, and may therefore be guilty of being unconscionably optimistic when he speaks of the “green shoots of peace” becoming visible in Kashmir.

But when he addressed journalists in Srinagar earlier this week, there was no denying that two features stood out. These point to something new and should be welcomed, although we should wait to see results if the Narendra Modi-Ajit Doval doctrine of “hard stance only” for J&K is in any way being modified.

The home minister said categorically that the Centre wouldn’t go against the “sentiments of the people” of Kashmir on the question of Article 35A of the Constitution. This provision defines who the residents of the state are, and debars outsiders from acquiring property in J&K. It has been legally challenged by a RSS-inclined outfit.

This is the first time that a top Modi government figure has said something on the subject. The proof of the pudding will be in the eating. It has to be seen if the Government of India will implead itself in the ongoing judicial proceedings and defend Article 35A in court.

Mr Singh also struck a conciliatory note when he said that “misguided children” (who are involved in stone-pelting) should “be dealt with as per the juvenile justice system and not locked up in jails. They should be properly counselled and treated with compassion”. Such observations do mark a way forward even if there is much ground to be covered.