Rajnath meets NSA, discusses NIT issue

Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday discussed with top officials, including National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval, the security situation in the country, including the tension at NIT Srinagar and the denial of permission to an NIA team to visit Pakistan in connection with the Pathankot attack. The Home Minister was briefed about the internal security situation in the country and steps taken to reduce tension in NIT Srinagar, official sources said. The situation has been tense at NIT-Srinagar, following clashes triggered by India’s defeat at the hands of West Indies in the World Cup T20 last week.

Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi, chiefs of different intelligence agencies and other senior officials attended the meeting.

Meanwhile, chairman of moderate Hurriyat Conference Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has said that outstation students at NIT-Srinagar are safe and asked them to concentrate on studies rather than playing into the hands of “opportunists” and “divisive forces”. “Whatever is happening in the NIT for the past few days is unfortunate. Some political parties and most of Indian electronic media are exaggerating the situation and trying to portray it as an issue between Hindu and Muslims and state versus non-state subjects with an objective to seek shifting of the institute,” he said, addressing a congregation at Jamia Masjid.