5 Cs ‘to see Valley through’

Ehsan Fazili

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, September 11

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh today said there was “much improvement” in the situation in strife-torn Kashmir compared to last year and that the Centre had devised a strategy based on “five Cs” to resolve the crisis.

Before leaving for Jammu as part of his four-day visit to the state, Rajnath said the “five Cs” stood for “compassion, communication, co-existence, confidence-building and consistency”. 

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During his visit, Rajnath reviewed the security situation as well as implementation of the Prime Minister’s development package. He interacted with leaders of various political parties and other stakeholders. 

“What I have observed is that the tree of peace has not dried up in Kashmir. Green shoots of peace are visible on dry trees,” said the Home Minister, who is expected to follow the same schedule in Jammu. Rajnath said his visit was in the backdrop of PM Narendra Modi’s Independence Day remarks wherein he called for “hugging Kashmiris”. “That’s why I have come with an open heart to talk to all stakeholders.”

On talks with separatists, he said there was no question of a formal or informal invitation as the government was “ready to talk to any stakeholder who wanted to talk for restoring peace in Kashmir”. 

About “abrogating” Article 35A, he said the Centre would not go against the sentiments of the Kashmiris. 

On Pakistan, Rajnath said the neighbouring nation must stop “terror infiltration” and respond positively to the peace moves initiated by New Delhi. “PM Modi has walked the extra mile to improve relations. Terrorism has destroyed many generations, but the government will not allow the future generations to get harmed,” he said.  Appealing to outsiders to visit the Valley for tourism as well as business, Rajnath said a wrong message had gone out that Kashmir was unsafe to travel.