Rajnath Singh rules out role of Pakistan in Kashmir resolution

‘CM will be taken onboard before talking to anyone here’

5 Dariya News

Srinagar 24-Jul-2016

Ruling out any dialogue with Pakistan in resolving Kashmir issue, Home Minister Rajnath Singh Sunday said that talks will be held with “whosoever the centre can” after restoration of peace and normalcy in the Kashmir Valley and taking into confidence the state’s chief minister.“Let normalcy and peace be restored, then we will talk to whosoever we can. We will take chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir into confidence before talking to anyone,” Singh said.“Whatever we will do we will do that in consultations with the Jammu and Kashmir government,” he said.Warning Pakistan for interfering in “our internal affairs”, the minister said that “role of Pakistan is not correct over Kashmir. “They have to change their thinking and role on Kashmir,” the minister said.He said that government of India will not tolerate terrorism. “I want to tell Pakistan that you are yourself affected by terrorism. On the hand you attacked Lal Masjid to kill terrorists, and on the other hand you are encouraging Kashmiri youth to pick up guns,” he said.

According to KNS correspondent, Singh addressed a press conference at Arjun Lounge in Airport here after reviewing the prevailing unrest on his two day visit.The minister said that he met more than 30 delegations during his visit on the prevailing situation.He has also met political parties who had pitched for dialogue with separatists for restoring normalcy to the state.“I appealed to all the delegations to help in restoring peace. I met people in Anantnag today and appealed to them to help in restore peace and normalcy in the Kashmir Valley,” he said.He said that people of Kashmir should come up with “constructive points” on how to improve the situation. “We will welcome those constructive points and after seeing them we will talk how to resolve the situation,” he said.He said that government of India does not need any third power is needed for restoring normalcy and peace in the state and improving the situation.

Singh said that Government of India would like to keep “emotional” bond with the people of the Jammu and Kashmir and not a relation that is based on “necessities”.On the prevailing unrest in the Valley, the minister said that he is “worried “on the situation in the state.While “regretting” the loss of civilians who were killed in the ongoing unrest, the minister said that he “condoles” with the families who lost their dear ones.Appealing youth in Kashmir not to pelt stones, Singh also asked security forces to exercise maximum restraint while dealing with the protesters.The minister also said that centre will provide treatment to the injured civilians in hospitals in the country. “Those civilians who have eye injuries will be airlifted for treatment. I have told the chief minister of the state that government of India will help in treatment of all the injured,” he said.On pellet guns, the minister said that he has spoken about pellet guns in the parliament and he has directed to set up a review committee which will submit a report after two months.

On the report of three interlocutors on Kashmir in 2010, the minister said that he will see the report and “ask his ministry whether there has been any consideration and progress on that report”.On former home minister P Chidambaram’s suggestion of “grand bargain” on Kashmir, Singh said that he will see the suggestions.The minister was flanked by Home Secretary, Rajiv Mehrishi, Joint secretary home, JK deputy chief minister Dr Nirmal Singh, and PWD minister A R Veeri.Before winding up his presser, Singh said that he was accompanied by Home Secretary, Rajiv Mehrishi, Joint secretary home. “If we have come here, we have come with some purpose and do something,” he said. (KNS)