Rajnath Singh will hold a high level security meeting in Srinagar.
Highlights
- Rajnath Singh in Kashmir to review situation in the violence-hit Valley
- Trade, commerce bodies boycott meeting call, call it 'meaningless'
- 45 people have died, 2,000 injured in over two weeks of clashes
In a setback to the government's efforts to reach out to the people of Kashmir, prominent trade and commerce bodies here today refused to meet Home Minister Rajnath Singh, who is on a two-day visit to review the situation in the violence-hit Valley.
Mr Singh had invited them for a meeting to discuss the situation in Kashmir, which is under curfew for the last 15 days. 46 people have died and over 2,400 have been injured in over two weeks of clashes between demonstrators and security forces amid protests over the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist Burhan Wani earlier this month.
The minister arrived in Kashmir this morning. He is spending the meeting with different delegations and leaders of all political parties to seek their feedback on how the violence can be checked. Apart from a high-level security meeting in Srinagar, he is also expected to meet Governor Narinder Nath Vohra and Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti.
"He will hear everybody and then he will go to Delhi and decide what the roadmap could be", said Bali Bhagat, the state health minister.
Hitting out at the government, the Congress has called his visit a "cosmetic approach" that "will just not work."
Kashmir Economic Alliance, Chamber Of Commerce and various hotel associations and transport bodies have boycotted the meeting call saying it would be "meaningless" when civilians are being killed and in firing by security forces every day.
"They should first stop the killings and then we will meet the home minister. We are not against meeting anybody but how can we meet the Home Minister when forces are killing our children," said Yasin Khan, president of Kashmir Economic Alliance.
All the 10 districts of Kashmir valley are under curfew for last 15 days. Internet and mobile phone services have also been suspended across the valley.
"Business can wait, everything is shattered in Kashmir as of now. In 2010 too, we met then home minister P Chidambaram. But nothing happened," said Siraj Ahmad of Kashmir Hoteliers Association.
Some people who met Mr Singh today hid their faces as they entered the Nehru Guest house to meet him. Media was not allowed to cover meetings.