Off the wire
• Urgent: 1 killed, several feared trapped in hospital fire in eastern India  • Commentary: U.S. Fed needs broader vision on rates hike  • Chinese company praised for social responsibility toward Togo youth  • Cambodian king expresses condolences to Italy, Myanmar after earthquake disasters  • Foreign exchange rates in India  • China's crude oil output down in July  • Taiwan leader's approval rate falls below 50 pct: polls  • China aims to reduce logistics costs  • Roundup: Suspected mastermind of Dhaka attack, Bangladeshi-Canadian Tamim Chowdhury, confirmed dead in raid  • Myanmar president leaves for state visit to India  
You are here: 　 Home

Indian-controlled Kashmir chief minister meets Modi on Kashmir unrest

Xinhua, August 27, 2016 Adjust font size:

Indian-controlled Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Saturday called on Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to hold a meeting on ongoing unrest in the restive region, officials said.

Mufti who came to Indian capital city on Friday evening met Modi at his residence in the morning and discussed prevailing situation in Indian-controlled Kashmir that is on boil for the past 50 days.

While authorities have imposed a strict curfew and restrictions, the separatists responded by calling for a shutdown. The lockdown has affected the normal life in the region with people often defying restrictions and hitting roads demanding end to New Delhi's rule.

"There is enough space in Indian democracy for people of Kashmir to fulfil their dreams," Mufti told media after her meeting with Modi.

Mufti's Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and India's ruling rightwing Hindu nationalist Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) are running a coalition government in Indian-controlled Kashmir.

She appealed the youth in Indian-controlled Kashmir to allow her to govern the region.

"I appeal to all those protesting in the streets. You may be angry with me, I may be angry with you, But please give me one chance," Mufti said.

On Friday, a youth was killed after Indian police and paramilitary troopers fired on protesters in village Nikas-Rajpora in Pulwama district, about 37 km south of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir. During the day-long clashes, local newspaper reported that 200 people were injured in the clashes across the region.

Mufti strongly defends the government forces and claims only 5 percent people in Indian-controlled Kashmir were resorting to agitation and remaining 95 per cent people want to resolve the Kashmir issue through peaceful means.

Friday's killing has pushed the toll of civilians in the ongoing unrest to 67, besides injuries to thousands of others including government forces personnel. Despite prolonged curfew and restrictions to clampdown on protesters, there seems to be no end to the clashes and protests since July 8, following the killing of a top militant commander.

Residents are facing a tough time as shortages of food, medicine and other necessities have hit the region badly.

Mufti's meeting came immediately after Indian Home Minister Rajnath Singh concluded the two-day visit to the restive region on Thursday.

Singh told media that Indian government would soon come up with an alternative to pellet guns, which are currently used to control street protests.

Earlier this week, Modi held a meeting with a delegation of region's opposition leaders belonging to pro-India parties, led by former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.

A separatist movement and guerrilla war challenging New Delhi's rule is going on in Indian-controlled Kashmir since 1989.

Kashmir, the Himalayan region divided between India and Pakistan, is claimed by both in full. Since their independence from Britain, the two countries have fought three wars, two exclusively over Kashmir.

The weeks of turbulence in Indian-controlled Kashmir has added a new confrontation in the already strained relations between the two countries. Endit