Separatist leaders Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Mohammad Yasin Malik. File
Mukesh Ranjan
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, September 6
On his return from Jammu and Kashmir after leading an all-party delegation to the state, Home Minister Rajnath Singh today met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and briefed him on the ground situation in the Kashmir Valley. There are strong indications that the Centre may toughen its approach towards separatist leaders, making their foreign sojourns difficult and scaling down their security cover.The Home Minister, in an hour-long meeting, apprised Modi on the assessment of the all-party delegation that visited Srinagar and Jammu on September 4 and 5.“Briefed the Prime Minister on all-party delegation’s visit to J&K and also apprised him of the situation in the state,” Rajnath tweeted. Miffed at the Hurriyat leaders snubbing the visiting MPs’ plea for a dialogue, the Centre has decided on a carrot and stick policy. National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval, say sources, firmly believes in this policy. the Centre is considering curbs on the separatist leaders’ foreign trips by taking back their passports and in some cases denying them travel documents. Sources in the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA ) said bank accounts of separatist leaders may be scrutinised and pending investigations against them hastened. The intention is to send across the message that those provoking the youths in the Kashmir Valley to create disturbance will not be spared. The MHA’s tough stand has come apparently after the Prime Minister’s nod. There is a feeling in the government that lack of governance in Jammu and Kashmir needs to be addressed and that the state government has been treating the separatists with kid gloves. The final decision, however, will be taken after the all-party delegation meets here tomorrow.Pellets kill another youth Srinagar: A 20-year-old youth was killed and over 100 were injured on Tuesday as security forces fired pellets to quell protesters, who were agitating against overnight police raids in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district. Restrictions and separatist-backed shutdown continued on 60th day in Kashmir as death toll climbed to 75. Educational institutions, shops and business establishments remained closed. Pak violates truce in PoonchJammu: Hours after Prime Minister Narendra Modi indirectly accused Pakistan of sponsoring terrorism in the region, the Pakistani army violated the ceasefire agreement at the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch sector. The firing started around late on Monday night and stopped at 9:45 am on Tuesday. This was the second ceasefire violation by the Pakistani army within a week.Elite to blame for discontent: Ex-Home SecyNew Delhi: Former Union Home Secretary GK Pillai on Tuesday said that “absence of effective local self- governance” in Jammu & Kashmir had led to concentration of power in the hands of a few families, resulting in disconnect and discontent. “The 73rd Amendment pertaining to Panchayati Raj Institutions and the 74th Amendment with regard to urban local bodies are not applicable to the state. This has resulted in concentration of power with the elite.” TNS