Parting shot from Rajnath; Now, up to Parliament

Promises K-action plan, says another team for Ladakh soon; panel meets 18 delegations in Jammu

Home Minister Rajnath Singh today said the Centre would soon decide an action plan to tackle the Kashmir situation. He stated this on the completion of the all-party delegation’s visit to the state.
Rajnath said some members of the all-party delegation had witnessed the Kashmir situation for the first time. He expressed the hope that parliamentary discussions on the issue would soon lead to a comprehensive solution to the vexed Kashmir problem through an action plan.
“When Parliament meets over the issue, all members will present their point of view. An action plan will be devised to tackle the situation in the state,” said the Home Minister in his media briefing after the delegation rounded off its meeting with Jammu stakeholders.
The all-party delegation led by Rajnath reached the Jammu Guest House at 2.05 pm. Immediately, it started talks with various delegations it had given time slots to.
Rajnath said 18 Jammu delegations met the delegation while presenting their respective points of view about Jammu and Kashmir. The delegation took nearly three hours to conclude the session.
“We met 18 Jammu delegations comprising nearly 200 persons who put forth their points of view over issues in the state. We had good talks with all segments of society,” he said.
He said the Centre considered Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh as three important regions of Jammu and Kashmir. Since the delegation had met the people of Jammu region and Kashmir, another team would meet the people of Ladakh soon, he said.
In his brief address, Rajnath said the delegation met the people of Kashmir on Sunday and decided to give an audience to the people of Jammu region today.
“All Jammu delegations that met us expressed serious concern over the Kashmir issue and wanted an early solution to the turmoil,” he said.
The Home Minister spoke to the media only for two and a half minutes. He refused to take any media query and left the venue immediately.
After being snubbed by Kashmiri separatists, who did not allow any member of the delegation to meet them, there were great expectations that the parliamentarians would face the media and speak on the Kashmir turmoil and a possible solution. Except Rajnath, no other member came forward with a statement.
As soon as the all-party delegation reached the Jammu Guest House, SOS International chairman Rajiv Chuni, Panun Kashmir chairman Ajay Chrungoo and president Agnishekhar and Shiv Sena representatives started sloganeering at the gate, but security forces denied them entry.
Representatives of the Chamber of Commerce and Industries, Bar Association of Jammu, West Pakistan Refugees Action Committee, Jammu Traders Federation, Muslim Front, Panthers Party, Federation of Industries, Pandits, hoteliers, tourism stakeholders and PoK refugees and Independent MLA Pawan Gupta met the parliamentarians.

Day later, Geelani says wasn’t officially invited
Srinagar: The separatist faction led by Syed Ali Shah Geelani on Monday said it was “never officially invited” to meet the all-party delegation of parliamentarians which had visited the region on Sunday. “They never officially invited us and at the same time blame us for rejecting it (the invite),” the separatist faction said in a statement. The separatists were invited to meet the delegation by Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti in her capacity as the president of her party. Several members of the delegation, including parliamentarians Sitaram Yechury, D Raja and Sharad Yadav, had attempted to meet Geelani at his residence here. Geelani, however, refused to open the gate. The separatist faction while responding to the comments made by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh accused him of “lies, deceit, denial and contradictions”. “They tried to play a game of ‘win only for them’ as they just wanted to discredit us whether we accepted their offer of dialogue which never came or ignored their casual personal gestures,” the separatist faction said. The separatist faction said New Delhi was “scared of any meaningful dialogue with the Hurriyat and Pakistan”. It said the “sole intention” of the delegation was to do firefighting to “derail the current movement”. It cautioned the “people in the power corridors of India” and advised them to give “a passionate hearing to genuine grievances and basic demands of the populace”.

J&K globally accepted dispute, insists Hurriyat
Srinagar: Reacting to Home Minister Rajnath Singh’s statement in Srinagar that Kashmir is an integral part of India, the moderate Hurriyat led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on Monday said Jammu and Kashmir was an “internationally accepted dispute since 1947”. A party spokesperson said the Centre should give up its “adamant stance, which is devoid of facts and ground realities”. “It should instead become serious to find a peaceful and long-lasting solution to the vexed Kashmir issue and initiate steps for its resolution, which would not only help in restoring peace in Kashmir but also create an environment for development and prosperity in entire South Asia,” the statement said.