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Home Minister Rajnath Singh’s two-day J-K visit begins

Rajnath, after reviewing law and order situation with Governor NN Vohra and CM Mehbooba Mufti will take a call on whether the unilateral ceasefire announced by the government would be extended after Eid to cover the annual Amarnath Yatra.

Home Minister Rajnath Singh’s two-day J-K visit begins

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh (Photo: Facebook)

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh reached Jammu and Kashmir’s Srinagar on Thursday for a two-day visit.

The home minister would review the ongoing suspension of anti-terror operations and tour a border district, officials said.

Rajnath, after reviewing law and order situation with Governor NN Vohra, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and senior officials of various state and Central departments will take a call on whether the unilateral ceasefire announced by the government would be extended after the Eid festival to cover the annual Amarnath Yatra.

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The home minister might also attend an Iftar to be hosted by Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, an official said. Singh will hold meetings with Governor N N Vohra, the chief minister, top civil, police and paramilitary officials.

Security for the Amarnath Yatra, beginning on June 28, will also be reviewed by Singh during his stay in the state.

While the state government wants the continuation of the Ramadan ceasefire beyond Eid, top sources suggest field commanders of the Army have argued that the cessation of hostilities from only one side is helping the militants to regroup and increase their numbers through recruitment of local boys.

Another important agenda on the Home Minister’s priority list would be to deliberate upon the response of the separatist leaders to the offer of talks.

While Singh has said the Centre is ready to talk to everyone, including the separatists, BJP’s national general secretary Ram Madhav recently made an offer to the separatists to engage in a meaningful dialogue with the Centre.

The separatist leaders have been demanding “clarity” on the talks offer so that their engagement in the dialogue would yield results.

Rajnath will also review the implementation of various Centre sponsored developmental programmes.

On the second day of his visit, he will review the security along the international border in Jammu and also deliberate on the situation that has been arising because of the migration of border residents each time Pakistan violates the bilateral ceasefire on the border.

Jitendra Singh, MoS (PMO), and a team of senior MHA officials will accompany Singh during the visit.

The recent incidents of stone pelting, attacks on security forces in the Kashmir valley and infiltration attempts along the border would also figure in the meetings Rajnath would have with the security forces’ top brass, said an official.

The home minister’s visit comes amid an offer for talks with the Hurriyat Conference. The separatist amalgam, however, had made it clear that it was ready for a dialogue only if there was clarity on the initiative.

A number of projects related to creating employment opportunities and sports infrastructure to attract youths might be unveiled during the visit.

This is the second high-level visit to the state after the announcement of suspension of operations by the Centre on May 16.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had visited all three regions of the state — Ladakh, Srinagar and Jammu — late last month.

(With inputs from agencies)

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