Stating that New Delhi and the State Government are working to alleviate the situation in Kashmir Valley, Indian Home Minister who led an All Party Delegation in Srinagar Monday castigated separatist leaders for denying to meet some of the members of delegation.Addressing reporters in Srinagar, Singh said that All Party Delegation had held meetings with a variety of students, intellectuals, state officials and other members of society."Everybody wants the situation in Kashmir to improve," he said, adding, "There is no doubt that Jammu and Kashmir is, has and will be an integral part of India,” he said. Singh however dodged the question when asked is New Delhi mulling to grant autonomy to Jammu and Kashmir.
Singh dubbed the behaviour of the separatists as not being consistent with Kashmiriyat, insaaniyat or jamhooriyat. Responding to a question Singh neither confirmed nor denied whether the Opposition leaders who had gone to speak to the Hurriyat had been given permission to do so. He however added that: "some members of the delegation went to meet Hurriyat leaders. We had neither said no nor yes to their meetings (with separatists). You know what happened. They had gone there in their individual capacities," the Home Minister told reporters here."We are willing to speak with anyone who wants peace in Kashmir and the Centre and state are working to alleviate the situation here.""When I had come here on 24 and 25 July," continued Singh, "People complained to me about the pellet guns.
I had then said that I was instituting a committee to decide on an alternative in two months. It's not even been two months and the suggestion of non-lethal PAVA shells has emerged. I believe those won't cause any deaths or injure to people."He said that: "Discussions with delegations overall have been positive, and I appeal to the press to bear in mind that the goings-on in Kashmir are a concern to us all, and we need to support of everyone to overcome them," he said. In reply to a question, Singh said, "I had maintained from the start that we were willing to speak to everyone."When asked about whether the home minister would speak to Pakistan about the issue, Singh said, "Let's first speak to those in the country.
"He said that members of delegation met the Governor, Chief Minister and a total of around 300 people came to see them.“They were people from political parties, civil society, university teachers and V-Cs, fruit growers, students and public intellectuals. Everyone wants that normalcy should restore here,” he said.Meanwhile, Fruit growers and dealers refuted the claims made by Home Minister Rajnath Singh that they have met him and All Party delegation members. Chairman Kashmir Valley Fruit Growers cum Dealers union, Bashir A Basheer said “none of the fruit growers from any part of the Valley met All Party Delegation.” He added "We boycotted the delegation and followed the Hurriyat Program." (CNS)