From PAVA shells to lesson on 'Insaniyat' to Kashmiri separatists: 25 quotes by Rajnath on all-party team's visit to valley

A day after Hurriyat leaders snubbed members of the all-party delegation on Kashmir issue who reached out to them, Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday said the behaviour of the separatists shows they do not believe in 'Kashmiriyat', 'Insaniyat' and 'Jamhooriyat'.

Addressing a press conference on the second day of the delegation's visit, Singh said he was confident that peace will be restored in the state.

Here are 25 quotes by the home minister on the all-party delegation's visit to Kashmir-

1. "The doors and windows for dialogue on Kashmir were always open." 

2. "No talks with Pakistan on Kashmir issue in near future. Let us first talk with the people within our country."

3. "Some members of delegation went to meet Hurriyat leaders in their individual capacity. We neither said 'Yes' nor 'No' (to the move)."

4. "The information given by the delegates (about how the members were treated) makes it clear that it is neither Kashmiriyat nor insaniyat."

5. "The members had gone to hold talks but by refusing to talk, they have shown that they (separatists) do no believe in jamhooriyat as well."

6. "I do not want to go into the debate about back channel talks with the separatists or appointment of a fresh team of interlocutors on Kashmir."

7. "Track one, Track Two, Track Three. I do not want to get into this debate."

8. "Like my previous visits to Kashmir since the unrest began in the Valley, I am willing to talks with anyone who wants peace and normalcy in the state."

9. "Ready for dialogue on Kashmir but it will be only held within the ambit of the Constitution."

10. "There are no two opinions that Jammu and Kashmir was, is and will remain an integral part of India. I know people of Kashmir also want this."

11. "Not only our doors but windows are also open for talks." 

12. Situation in Jammu and Kashmir will improve and everyone who met the delegation haave expressed this wish."

13. "I am convinced that the situation in Jammu and Kashmir will improve."

14. "There was a demand for ban on pellet guns from the people I met in Srinagar in July."

15. "We formed an expert committee which was mandated to submit a report on alternative to pellet guns within two months. The committee gave its report ahead of time and now PAVA has come."

16. "I understand that no one will lose life due to use of PAVA. 1,000 non-lethal PAVA shells arrived in Kashmir on Sunday."

17. "The delegation of 26 Parliamentarians from 20 parties came to Kashmir as they were very serious about the situation in the Valley."

18. "The all-party delegation has taken suggestions from the people who interacted with it for improvement of situation in Kashmir."

19. "Parliament is the biggest Panchayat in the country and it is very serious about the situation in Kashmir. This panchayat decided to send a delegation to Kashmir to interact with the people."

20. "We are not only concerned but pained by the situation in Kashmir. We need everyone's cooperation."

22. "We met the political parties, civil society, university teachers, Vice Chancellors, fruit growers, students and some intellectuals. The delegation also interacted with state Governor N N Vohra, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and officials of the state government on Sunday.

23. "The Centre was providing all assistance to state government which is trying to improve the situation."

24. To address concerns of Kashmiri youths living in different parts of the country the home ministry has appointed Dr Sanjay Rai as nodal officer who can be approached on phone numbers 011-23092923, 23092885. 

25. If required, the government will take suggestions from them again in future," Rajnath Singh said when asked if the Centre was willing to consider proposals like PDP's self rule and National Conference's greater autonomy for Jammu and Kashmir within the ambit of the Constitution.

(With inputs from PTI)