Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday did not say anything about the banning of pellet guns against unarmed protesters as was assured by him during his last visit however he came down heavily on separatist leaders for not engaging in talks over the prevailing situation in Kashmir.
“Shunning delegation members who had come for talks shows Hurriyat members do not believe in democracy. The behaviour of Hurriyat leaders with delegation members was neither ‘Kashmiriyat’ nor ‘insaniyat’,” Rajnath said in a press conference.
Claiming that the government is ready to go to any extent to discuss the situation with the Separatists, he said “not only doors but ventilators are also open for talk with them”.
Janata Dal-United leader Sharad Yadav and Communist leaders Sitaram Yechury and D Raja went to meet Syed Ali Geelani but the Hurriyat chairman refused to even let them in and the MPs left after waiting at his door for about ten minutes.
Outside the house, several of Geelani’s supporters massed around and angrily shouted slogans as the MPs’ cars and security vehicles went past. They chanted “Go India, go back” and “We want freedom”.