Srinagar, Aug 24 (KNS): Home Minister Rajnath Singh arrived Srinagar on a two day visit to Jammu & Kashmir state early Wednesday morning and reviewed the security situation with top civil, army and police officials at a high level review meeting.
After reviewing the security the Home Minister met several political delegations of top mainstream political parties including PDP, BJP, National Conference, Congress, CPI(M), Peoples Democratic Front (PDF) and Democratic Party Nationalist The PDP delegation that met the Home Minister included Sartaj Madni Anjum fazili, Mushtaq Ahmad Shah, Javed Mustada Mir Saif-ud-Din Bhat, Ab Majeed Padder and Abid Ansari and the delegation of National Conference headed by Omar Abdullah among others represented by Ali Mohammad Sagar, Akbar Lone, Mir Saifullah and Mubarak Gul also met Home Minister separately. Another delegation that met Home Minister was led by BJP State President Sat Sharma and among others included Charanjeet Singh Khalsa, Surinder Ambardar, Romesh Arora and Fayaz Ahmad Bhat. A delegation of the state unit of the Congress that met Home Minister was led by J&K Congress Chief G.A. Mir and also included Haji Ab Rashid Dat, Gulzar Ahmad Wani, G.N.Monga, Ravinder Sharma, Krishen Amla, Khem Lal Wakhloo, Gh Nabi Mir Lasjin and Farooq Andrabi.
Among other who met the Home Minister separately include CPI(M) Secretary M.Y.Tarigami, President Peoples Democratic Front (PDF) Hakeem Mohammad Yaseen and President Democratic Party (Nationalist) Gh Hassan Mir. Invited all those who believe in 'Kashmiriyat, Insaniyat and Jamhooriyat'.
Singh Almost all the political delegations that met Home Minister Rajnath Singh conveyed to him their serious concerns over the disproportionate use of force in crowd control policing, contradictory statements of the central leadership over the initiation of a political dialogue in Kashmir and the occupation of schools by government forces in Srinagar and other parts of Kashmir valley.
The political delegations also conveyed their deep concerns over the insufficient facilities available to injured youth in the hospital and sought a special package for those injured by the pellets and bullets during the current unrest in Kashmir. The delegations called upon the Home Minister to announce a special package for injured youth, direct the forces to stop pellet guns and vacate the forces from school buildings.
As many as 66 persons, including two police personnel, have been killed and several thousands injured ever since the turmoil began.
Among them is a youth who was killed in fresh clashes in Pulwama on Wednesday. Before leaving for Kashmir, the Home Minister said he will hold talks with all stakeholders and those who believe in 'Kashmiriyat, Insaniyat and Jamhooriyat' are welcome.
Singh said he would be staying at Srinagar's Nehru guest house where he will interact with cross section of people on Kashmir issue. "I shall interact will civil society groups, political parties and other stakeholders," he said on Twitter. "Those who believe in Kashmiriyat, Insaniyat and Jamhooriyat are welcome," he added. He will also hold meetings with Governor N N Vohra and Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti.
This is the second visit of the Home Minister to the Kashmir Valley since the eruption of the unrest in Kashmir after Hizbul Commander Burhan Wani was killed in an encounter in Kokernag areas of South Kashmir’s Anantnag district. (KNS)