- Indian forces carry out raids at 22 locations in IHK, Delhi to target Hurriyat leaders, their close aides
India’s Minister for Home Affairs Rajnath Singh on Saturday reiterated that the Indian government was open to talking to anybody who comes forward as talks can resolve the most thorny issues in a democratic setup.
“But there are forces that are trying to ‘mislead’ and ‘instigate’ the Kashmiri youth. And the local forces that are ‘instigating’ the Kashmiri youth are doing it for their own personal gain. India will not allow them to play with the future of Kashmiris,” he said at a press conference.
“We will ensure that ‘terrorism’ is uprooted from Kashmir soon. The ‘violence’ will not last long,” he said and blamed Pakistan for ‘fomenting trouble’ in the Indian-held Kashmir. He said that the Indian government was ‘sincerely’ working towards a ‘permanent’ solution to the Kashmir problem.
“We are ‘sincerely’ working towards a ‘permanent’ solution to the Kashmir problem, but it could take some time. This issue has been simmering since 1947. So a solution cannot be expected in a jiffy or the next couple of months,” he said. The Indian government was committed to removing every impediment to the future of Kashmir, he said.
“The skills that its youth are blessed with will be used for the development of Kashmir and India; their hands are not meant for pelting stones,” he said. Stating that the Indian government was sensitive towards the needs and problems of Kashmiri people, Rajnath said.
The home minister recalled how Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was first to reach the disputed state at the time of floods and also ensured that he celebrated his first Diwali festival in the state after taking over.
Indian officials confirmed that the minister taking Pakistan, and the Hurriyat leaders head-on wasn’t an off-the-cuff remark and was aimed at sending a ‘strong’ message. Hours before the minister’s briefing on the achievements, India’s National Investigation Agency carried out raids at 22 locations in the disputed state and New Delhi targeting top Hurriyat leaders and their close aides.
