The curfew imposed by the government to maintain a semblance of sanity in the violence-struck Valley, has been lifted after a total of 52 days. The move makes way for an all-party delegation visit to the region. Leading the delegation, Home Minister Rajnath Singh, and others will visit Kashmir on September 4, and meet a group of individuals and organisations in Srinagar.
While official statements are yet to come, the delegation is said to limit itself to the brief followed by the team which went to the state during the protests of 2010. Singh held a meeting with BJP chief Amit Shah, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, and MoS in PMO Jitendra Singh, where it was decided that an all-party team should go to Srinagar soon. It is said that the officials may not talk to secessionists, but individuals are free to interact as per will.
Meanwhile, a visibly shattered Kashmir makes it way back to normalcy despite specks of clashes reported in different parts of Srinagar. Police station areas of Nowhatta and Maharaj Gunj in Srinagar and Pulwama district are still under curfew. Several rioters are still resorting to stone pelting at private vehicles, erected barricades and security forces. A statement issued by the police reported incidents of stone pelting from Srinagar, Anantnag, Kulgam, Sopore, Kupwara, and Bandipora. "These incidents were reported from Guzarbal, Babademb, Saidpora, Batamaloo, Chanapora in Srinagar, Gandwani, Shol Batango in Kulgam, Nadihal Chowk in Sopore, Brambari, Rekhipora in Kupwara and Kaloosa in Bandipora," the statement said. All senior separatist leaders have been placed under detention in Srinagar.
The bout of violence that began on July 9, following the encounter death of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani saw the death of 71 people, 68 civilians and three policemen. Around 11,000 others, including civilians and security personnel were injured during this time.
Modi's Mann ki Baat
The Prime Minister addressed the Kashmir situation in his radio programme 'Mann Ki Baat' on Sunday, a day after chief minister Mehbooba Mufti met him. He said that any life lost in Kashmir, is the country's loss. "Ekta and Mamata was the crux of all interactions I had recently on Kashmir situation." Modi said that all those pushing the youth towards stone pelting in Kashmir will some day have to answer them, and added that all political parties spoke in one voice on Kashmir.
400 local leaders to be held in detention
Intelligence officers have identified 400 local leaders for instigating violence, and shared their list with the state police for an immediate crackdown, including detention under the Public Safety Act. Central agencies said the list included overground workers of Hizbul Mujahideen and other terrorist outfits, besides local-level functionaries of Tehreek-e-hurriyat and Jamaat-e-Islami.
A central officer said, "These are primarily local leaders who have been mobilising children as young as 10-12, besides teenagers, to come on the streets and indulge in stone-pelting. Many are overground workers from villages in south Kashmir who shelter terrorists and help with logistics." A home ministry official said, "The message conveyed to the state authorities is clear, there has to be firm and resolute police action against those mobilising young protesters. Just like 2010, when the cycle of stone-pelting protests was contained by acting against the leaders and invoking PSA against top separatists like Masarat Alam, we must crack down on the identified local-level leaders. Detaining such leaders under PSA for a few months will put them out of circulation, thus allowing the protests to die down."
He added, "A strong message needs to go out that the government and its agencies mean business and that those instigating mobs for their selfish ends will not be allowed to go scot-free and must be ready to face action under tough laws like PSA."
Pak PM appoints special task force to "fight for Kashmir cause"
In a move that adds more fuel to the already existing fire, Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif appointed 22 parliamentarians as special envoys "for fighting the Kashmir cause in different parts of the world". No fool himself, Sharif seems aware of the consequences the task force would have on the rotting relations between the two countries.
"I am standing behind these special envoys to ensure their toil for highlighting the Kashmir cause resonates across the world so that I can shake the collective conscience of the international community during my address at the UN this September," Sharif said. He said Pakistan will remind the United Nations of its long-held promise of self-determination for the Kashmiri people. The action came a few days after Modi said Pak will have to answer for the "atrocities" in Balochistan and Pakistan occupied Kashmir.
J&K CM Mehbooba Mufti calls on Modi
In the light of the protests, a flustered Mehbooba Mufti met with PM Modi in New Delhi. While the opposition has consistently called out Modi's lack of control in the events, Mehbooba resorted to praise him and Rajnath Singh for taking proper initiatives to start a dialogue with Pakistan. "PM Modi reached out to Pakistan, went to Lahore, but then Pathankot happened. Home Minister Rajnath Singh also went to Islamabad. Unfortunately, Pakistan has repeatedly given up chances to talk and resolve the issue of violence in Kashmir." She added, "Now, it is time for Pakistan to respond if it wants peace in Kashmir."
Addressing the media after her meeting with the PM, Mufti slammed Pak for fuelling the protests. "Pakistan has been openly trying to provoke and fuel tensions in Kashmir valley. PM Modi, like all of us, is very concerned with the situation in Jammu and Kashmir." She said the situation in the region has been bad since 2008. "The UPA government had ignored the situation after the 2008 unrest. But PM Modi is trying to resolve the situation."
A call for Sindhudesh
While Pak focuses its energy on prodding Kashmir, azaadi slogans were raised in the Sindh province a few days after Gilgit, PoK and Balochistan. Baloch and Sindhi leaders held protests even against China-Pakistan economic corridor outside the Chinese Embassy in London, raising pro-Modi slogans on the go. The action was in response to the warning China's think tank issued to India asking not to interfere in Balochistan.
