Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday told Rajya Sabha that slogans like “Pakistan Zindabad” that are chanted in the valley “won’t be tolerated” on Indian territory and appealed to Kashmiris to stop such elements.
Lashing out at Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s comment on Kashmir, Rajnath said that no power on earth can separate Jammu & Kashmir from India.
“Kashmir is an inseparable part of India. No power on earth can separate it from India,” Singh said while replying to a debate in the Rajya Sabha on the current situation in the Kashmir Valley.
Rajnath added that talks would not be held with Pakistan regarding Kashmir but on the issue of Pakistan Occupied Kashmir.
Rajnath also blamed Pakistan for “whatever is happening in the Kashmir Valley” adding that he has no hesitation in admitting it.
“When I visited Srinagar and Anantnag on July 23 and 24, I met about 30 delegations from different walks of life and discussed the Kashmir issue,”
he said adding that the separatists have been calling for shutdowns in the Kashmir Valley. “I am not saying that people living in Kashmir are leading a normal life,” but the state government is trying its best to provide basic facilities,” Rajnath added.
Rajnath said an all party meeting to discuss the situation in Kashmir will be held on August 12 and will be attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Rajnath also reiterated to the house that the security forces have been told to exercise maximum restraint and a decision will be taken soon on an alternative to pellet guns adding that all efforts will be made to instill faith in the valley.
