On 24 April, Monday, Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti meets Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi to degenerate law and order situation in the state. The renewed violence has also strained relations between the ruling PDP-BJP coalition, leading to a growing clamour for governor’s rule in the state. The chief minister Mehbooba Mufti is likely to discuss confidence building measures with Modi. She is likely to press for some political initiative from the Centre to address growing alienation of the people of Kashmir, particularly the youth, which she believes is the reason for increasing incidents of stone-pelting at security forces.
Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir @MehboobaMufti meets PM @narendramodi. pic.twitter.com/advooXYsep
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) April 24, 2017
Major issue which is likely to get discussed in this meet is the Kashmir valley’s heightened tension of tumultuous stone pelters protest. This agitation headed by the separatists since the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani in an encounter with security forces in south Kashmir on July 8 last year. The unrest in the Valley has left 86 people dead and thousands others, including 5,000 security personnel, injured. Youth of Kashmir valley are mainly involve in this stone pelting protest.
Kashmir Youth mobilising stone-pelting at the encounter sites of the valley to disrupt the operations that were being made by the security forces. Kashmir police official said, “Nearly 300 WhatsApp groups were being used to mobilise stone-pelters in Kashmir to disrupt security forces’ operations at encounter sites, of which 90 per cent have been shut down”. These 300 Whatsapp groups had around 250 members.
On Sunday, the Prime Minister urged all chief ministers to take care of students from Jammu and Kashmir in their respective states, a remark that assumes significance in view of some recent incidents targeting Kashmiri youth. Modi’s advice came after Mehbooba Mufti raised the issue following assault of six Kashmiri students of Mewar University in Rajasthan by some locals. Last week, hoardings were also put up in Meerut by a right-wing group, asking Kashmiris to leave Uttar Pradesh. The Prime Minister also took note of the invitation extended by Mehbooba to various state governments to organise events in her state.
Appreciable gesture by J&K CM @MehboobaMufti to invite other states to organise events there. Urged CMs to accept this invite from J&K CM.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 23, 2017
