Prime Minister Narendra Modi Reviews Kashmir Crisis
NEW DELHI: With 30 dead and over 1,400 now injured in Kashmir, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was briefed this morning on the crisis that began with the shooting of 22-year-old terrorist Burhan Wani, provoking continuing clashes between civilians and security forces.
Top sources confirm Foreign Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, who was a part of this morning’s review, will issue a statement responding to Pakistan’s attempt to exacerbate the unrest. Yesterday, Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif issued a statement which eulogised Wani, provoking a warning from Delhi for Islamabad to “refrain from interfering” in India’s internal affairs.
This morning’s meeting at the PM’s residence was attended by Home Minister Rajnath Singh who has cancelled a trip to the US and senior ministers, including Arun Jaitley as well as National Security Adviser Ajit Doval. 30 people have died and over 1,400 have been injured in the violence in Kashmir
“The PM has appealed to the people of Jammu and Kashmir to maintain peace,” said Jitender Singh, a junior minister in Mr Modi’s office who is also a Lok Sabha MP from Jammu and Kashmir.In an unprecedented gesture to build support for its strategy, the government has briefed senior opposition leaders including Sonia Gandhi, Omar Abdullah and Sitaram Yechury to avoid public criticism from political opponents as Pakistan tries to aggravate the unrest in the Kashmir Valley.
The army and security forces have been urged to adopt “a more judicious use of force”, said a source, as they take on hostile demonstrators who crowded the streets for a third day despite a curfew in all 10 districts of the Kashmir Valley.The government is keen to resume the Amarnath Yatra and ensure thousands of worshippers are not inconvenienced. Burhan Wani was just 15 when he joined the terrorist group Hizbul Mujahideen
Sources say top officers are worried that stalling of the yatra will be seen as the government’s inability to control law and order and guarantee safe passage to devotees who come from all over India for the exacting pilgrimage.When the situation quietens, community elders will be enlisted to talk to neighbourhoods and reverse the perception of a heavy-handed administration and people-unfriendly security forces.
Burhan Wani was just 15 when he joined the Hizbul Mujahideen, the largest terrorist group in Kashmir. He rose through the ranks quickly, leveraging a growing resentment against the security forces with a firm grip on social media, where he posted pictures of himself and other young men with weapons. Thousands attended his funeral on Saturday.
