New Delhi:
A day after a landmark initiative to resolve Kashmir current crisis began, first signs of chinks appeared in the unity of the all-party team.
The BJP on Tuesday made it clear that the unconventional - and many say - brave decision to reach put to Valley's key separatists in their homes was a personal and not a collective decision. (Watch: Delegates reach Geelani's house) | (Watch: All-party delegates meet Mirwaiz)
"Some delegates went to meet the Hurriyat but the BJP did not go. That was their personal decision, not a decision of the delegation. If some people want to go we cannot stop them but we decided not to go. It was not a mandate. It was not discussed in the delegation," senior BJP leader Sushma Swaraj said.
But some of the delegate members told NDTV it was official and represented the entire delegation.
"Nobody objected to it, we suggested it initially... many other parties joined. It was officially on behalf of delegation that we went to meet them," one of the delegation member Sitaram Yechury said.
Others said that an official memo to the Home Minister had asked for these meetings. (Kashmir also about separatists: Omar to NDTV)
But today, it was a setback of different sorts. When the all-party team went to meet the injured civilians at Bone and Joint Hospital at Barzulla, protests by victims' families blocked them.
The delegation then visited the SMHS Hospital.
But they had to cut short their visit after meeting just one patient as the relatives of patients started raising slogans against the security forces and the government.
One of those they couldn't meet was 22-year-old Rameez who was brought to the hospital with a gunshot wound in his chest.
A Sopore resident, Rameez said he was injured when security forces opened fire on a peaceful funeral procession two days ago.
But police say they never fired without provocation.
The delegates visited Rameez's ward, but when the sloganeering erupted inside the hospital they were whisked away before meeting him.
"I hoped to meet them... I hoped to be comforted by them," said Rameez.
Before leaving for Jammu, the Home Minister interacted with the aam admi and got a first-hand account of their grievances.
"The Army is showering bullets on us, and hundreds of people have died in three months. I want to ask you - this is my body (points towards himself), this is India, this is my hand (shows hand), and this is Kashmir. If I put my hand in boiling oil, how will it feel? Why can't you feel this pain? If you say Kashmir is part of India why can't you feel this pain? Why do you fire at us? Why do you kill our youth?" a person said to the Home Minister. (Kashmir: All-party delegates reach out to separatists)
As the all-party team made its way to Jammu - the final destination of their tour - it left behind a Valley full of pain and a desperate desire to return to peace.
In Jammu, the delegation was met with protests of a different kind - from groups like Panun Kashmir which have demanded a separate state for exiled Kashmiri Pandits, and a fierce opposition to all the proposals mooted by the Valley's politicians.
"There is no question of giving more autonomy, whatever is granted is enough. If somebody asks for more autonomy, the Congress party will oppose it," said Congress leader Mangat Ram Sharma.
Notwithstanding the differences of opinion, at the end of Day 2, the delegation left with some satisfaction. It went beyond the protocols and rigidity, willing to not just listen but hear some uncomfortable questions. (Watch: Meeting separatists a good start, Mehbooba tells NDTV)
The BJP on Tuesday made it clear that the unconventional - and many say - brave decision to reach put to Valley's key separatists in their homes was a personal and not a collective decision. (Watch: Delegates reach Geelani's house) | (Watch: All-party delegates meet Mirwaiz)
"Some delegates went to meet the Hurriyat but the BJP did not go. That was their personal decision, not a decision of the delegation. If some people want to go we cannot stop them but we decided not to go. It was not a mandate. It was not discussed in the delegation," senior BJP leader Sushma Swaraj said.
But some of the delegate members told NDTV it was official and represented the entire delegation.
"Nobody objected to it, we suggested it initially... many other parties joined. It was officially on behalf of delegation that we went to meet them," one of the delegation member Sitaram Yechury said.
Others said that an official memo to the Home Minister had asked for these meetings. (Kashmir also about separatists: Omar to NDTV)
But today, it was a setback of different sorts. When the all-party team went to meet the injured civilians at Bone and Joint Hospital at Barzulla, protests by victims' families blocked them.
The delegation then visited the SMHS Hospital.
But they had to cut short their visit after meeting just one patient as the relatives of patients started raising slogans against the security forces and the government.
One of those they couldn't meet was 22-year-old Rameez who was brought to the hospital with a gunshot wound in his chest.
A Sopore resident, Rameez said he was injured when security forces opened fire on a peaceful funeral procession two days ago.
But police say they never fired without provocation.
The delegates visited Rameez's ward, but when the sloganeering erupted inside the hospital they were whisked away before meeting him.
"I hoped to meet them... I hoped to be comforted by them," said Rameez.
Before leaving for Jammu, the Home Minister interacted with the aam admi and got a first-hand account of their grievances.
"The Army is showering bullets on us, and hundreds of people have died in three months. I want to ask you - this is my body (points towards himself), this is India, this is my hand (shows hand), and this is Kashmir. If I put my hand in boiling oil, how will it feel? Why can't you feel this pain? If you say Kashmir is part of India why can't you feel this pain? Why do you fire at us? Why do you kill our youth?" a person said to the Home Minister. (Kashmir: All-party delegates reach out to separatists)
As the all-party team made its way to Jammu - the final destination of their tour - it left behind a Valley full of pain and a desperate desire to return to peace.
In Jammu, the delegation was met with protests of a different kind - from groups like Panun Kashmir which have demanded a separate state for exiled Kashmiri Pandits, and a fierce opposition to all the proposals mooted by the Valley's politicians.
"There is no question of giving more autonomy, whatever is granted is enough. If somebody asks for more autonomy, the Congress party will oppose it," said Congress leader Mangat Ram Sharma.
Notwithstanding the differences of opinion, at the end of Day 2, the delegation left with some satisfaction. It went beyond the protocols and rigidity, willing to not just listen but hear some uncomfortable questions. (Watch: Meeting separatists a good start, Mehbooba tells NDTV)
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