On the eve of his visit to Jammu and Kashmir, Home Minister Rajnath Singh today claimed that he was going to the state with an “open mind” and was willing to meet all those who would come forward. He said the government intended to make attempts to resolve all pending issues in the state.
It is learnt that during his four-day stay in the state, the Home Minister will visit Srinagar, Anantnag, Jammu and Rajouri and meet civil society members, leaders of political and social outfits, business leaders and others.
Rajnath’s visit to the state is also seen as a follow-up to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Independence Day speech in which he had reached out to the people of the Valley by saying: “Kashmir needs hugs, neither abuse nor bullets”.
“I am going with an open mind and I am willing to meet all those who come to meet me. We want a resolution to the problems,” Rajnath told reporters on the sidelines of a function here today.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) in a statement said the Home Minister during his visit would meet Governor NN Vohra and Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti. He would also review the security situation in the state and works related to the Prime Minister’s Rs 80,000-crore development package announced in 2015.
As Rajnath is also scheduled to interact with security forces personnel, his first engagement on Sunday would be a comprehensive security review meeting with the Chief Minister and top brass of the Army, CRPF and the J&K Police.
The Home Minister is also likely to interact with college students in Srinagar to get their views on the Kashmir situation. He will address a press conference in Srinagar on Monday before leaving for Jammu. He will also visit a BSF camp in Rajouri.
In Jammu, the Home Minister will meet stakeholders, including traders, migrants, Kashmiri Pandits and representatives of communities like Gujjars and Bakerwals.
Willing to meet all stakeholders in J&K: Rajnath Singh
