Home minister Rajnath Singh lashes out at separatists

Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday lashed out at Hurriyat leaders in Kashmir after their refusal to hold talks with members of the all-party delegation, saying the separatists’ behaviour showed they do not believe in Kashmiriyat, insaniyat (humanity) or jamhooriyat (democracy). 

Singh asserted that “the doors and windows for dialogue” on Kashmir were always open but ruled out any talks with Pakistan on the issue in near future saying, “Let us first talk with the people within our country”. “Some members of delegation went to meet Hurriyat leaders in their individual capacity. We neither said ‘Yes’ nor ‘No’ (to the move). 

“The information given by the delegates (about how the members were treated) makes it clear that it is neither Kashmiriyat nor insaniyat,” Singh, who is leading the delegation, told reporters on the second day of its visit. 

“The members had gone to hold talks but by refusing to talk, they have shown that they do no believe in jamhooriyat as well,” the Minister said, coming down heavily on the separatists who on Wednesday snubbed attempts by MPs like CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury, CPI’s D Raja, JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav, RJD’s Jay Prakash Narayan and AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi to reach out to them. At hardline Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani’s residence, the gate was not even opened for the MPs while people shouted slogans outside. 

Singh evaded a direct reply to a question about BJP support or otherwise to the move by Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti to write to the separatists urging them to engage with the delegation for resolution of Kashmir issue.