Rajnath convenes high-level meet over Kashmir issue, Mehooba present

New Delhi: With the situation in Kashmir valley remaining tense, Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Monday, convened a high-level meeting in the national capital to discuss the issue.

Besides the Home Minister, the meeting is being attended by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, MoS PMO Jitendra Singh, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, among others.

The meeting chaired by Rajnath Singh was preceded by his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and National Security Adviser Ajit Doval.

Today is the 31st straight day of curfew in Kashmir after violence first broke out over the death of 22-year-old terrorist Burhan Wani.

The issue echoed in the Parliament too with opposition parties questioning PM Modi’s “silence”.

The Opposition parties also demanded stopping the use of pellet guns on protesters, even as one member demanded withdrawal of AFPSA from the Kashmir Valley and withdrawal of the dominating presence of army from civilian areas.

Raising the issue in Zero Hour after his notice under rule 267 seeking suspension of business to discuss the issue was disallowed, Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad said no state in independent India has seen 30 days of continuous curfew that has paralysed the administration, shut down educational institutions and led to near zero attendance in government offices.

“In such circumstances, we want to awaken the government… We feel the government and the Prime Minister are watching the situation deteriorate like a silent spectator,” he said, adding he wanted to know why Modi has spoken on the grave situation in Kashmir so far.