Kashmir unrest: Miffed Centre to toughen stand against separatists, cut funds and security

While the Centre has decided to scale down the security presence in Jammu and Kashmir after Home Minister Rajnath Singh-led all-party delegation’s visit to the state, the separatists leaders’ refusal to hold talks has not gone down well with the government. After Singh’s meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday, the Central government indicated that it will toughen its stand against the separatist leaders. Reports suggested that the Centre will not only scrutinise the bank accounts of the separatists, but also speed up pending investigations in cases against them. These leaders are also likely to be banned from making foreign trips and Z-scale security provided to them will be scaled down. Union Minister of State for Home Affairs of India Kiren Rijiju said that the government will take action keeping national interest in mind.

Will do whatever is required to be done in the interest of the nation: Kiren Rijiju on govt to probe Kashmiri separatists funding issue

— News18 (@CNNnews18) September 7, 2016

[caption id=“attachment_2992000” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Home Minister Rajnath Singh with J&K Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti. File photo. AP[/caption] On Monday, Singh hit out at the separatist leaders for snubbing the government attempts to hold talks with them. “The members had gone to hold talks but by refusing to talk, they have shown that they (separatists) do no believe in Kashmiriyat, insaniyat (humanity) or jamhooriyat (democracy),” said Singh, reported PTI. Apart from Singh, MPs like CPM leader Sitaram Yechury, CPI’s D Raja, JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav, RJD’s Jay Prakash Narayan and AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi were part of the delegation. According to CNN-News 18, the government spends around Rs 309.53 crore on separatists and as many as 1,472 of these leaders are provided security. The news channel reported that 708 vehicles are given to 481 separatists and 440 of them are accommodated in secure hotels. The Hurriyat Conference, on the other hand, claimed that it did not receive any special treatment from the government. The government said the separatists “mishandled” the situation and they need to be “ignored and exposed” at a time when the people of the Kashmir Valley are suffering. Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti on Tuesday hit out at the separatists for “spoiling” the youth of the Kashmir Valley and said that it was an an “insult” to “Kashmiriyat” after they shut their doors on the members of the all-party delegation. “We have lost several opportunities in the past to resolve the issue through engagement and dialogue and today again if we miss the chance, the coming generations will never forgive us for our intransigence,” she said, according to PTI. Making an emotional appeal, the chief minister said the separatist leaders lost an opportunity by refusing to engage in a dialogue with the government and prominent members of Parliament. She said that the separatists are responsible for the fact that the children in Kashmir are picking up stones instead of going to schools and colleges. “Despite the challenges and impediments, the prevailing painful situation in Kashmir necessitates once again reaching out to all shades of political opinion in the state and initiating substantive political and economic measures to revive and consolidate the peace and resolution process,” she said. Meanwhile, at least four persons were injured in fresh clashes on Wednesday between protesters and security forces in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district as restrictions continued throughout the valley. In view of a fight that is led by teenagers and youth, David Devadas  asks if these separatists have any influences on these youths. “It is well known in Kashmir that the intelligence agencies have kept many ‘secessionist leaders’ well catered for. Houses, hotels, resort and other properties, hospital and air travel bills, and monies in other forms, are said to have been provided… etc, the forces and agencies cannot influence those well-catered-for figures to even unbolt their doors?,” he writes. An all-party meeting is underway in Parliament and the fate of the separatists depends on the outcome of the meeting.  

Delhi: All Party meeting begins in the Parliament. pic.twitter.com/HZGoqHdfpc

— ANI (@ANI) September 7, 2016

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CPM General Secretary Sitaram Yechury, however, reports of government crackdown on separatists are wrong.

HM said in all party meet that reports of Govt deciding to crack down on separatists is absolutely wrong: Sitaram Yechury

— ANI (@ANI) September 7, 2016

With inputs from agencies