Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi today and is most likely to have a discussion on the current state of unrest in Kashmir. This will be the first meeting between the two after unrest broke out in the valley.
The Chief Minister's meeting with the Prime Minister after the Home Minister's visit to Srinagar is seen as the centre's outreach to the state and an attempt to de-escalate the tension which has claimed 70 lives so far and left over 11,000 injured.
Ms Mufti had strongly defended security forces action during a press conference and claimed that 95 percent of people want to resolve the Kashmir issue through political means and dialogue but five percent people were resorting to agitation.
Earlier, the Home Minister had asked the Chief Minister to act tough against and round up those perpetrating a deadly civilian unrest triggered by the July 8 killing of Hizbul commander Burhan Wani.
State and central intelligence agencies have prepared a list of around 170 ringleaders, found inciting the unrest and provoking people to take to the streets and throw stones at security forces. Most of these ringleaders are from south Kashmir, the bastion of Mehbooba's Peoples Democratic Party.
Earlier this week, the Prime Minister Modi had a meeting with a delegation of opposition parties from the state led by former chief minister Omar Abdullah. The Prime Minister had expressed his deep concern and pain over the situation in the valley and asked all the political parties to work together to find a permanent and lasting solution to problems in the state.
The Prime Minister had appreciated the "constructive suggestions" made by the opposition delegation during the talks and reiterated his government's commitment to the welfare of people.
Syed Ali Shah Geelani, who heads the hardline Hurriyat Conference, was held outside his upscale Hyderpora residence as he defied restrictions and attempted to march to Eidgah. The moderate Hurriyat chairman, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, was also arrested near his Nigeen house. Both the separatist leaders were briefly detained at police stations near their houses.
By Premji
