Kashmiri leaders refuse to meet Indian home minister

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Web Desk
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KARACHI/SRINAGAR: The Kashmiri leadership on Sunday refused to meet Indian Home Minister Rajnath Singh, after they were approached by a high-level Indian delegation for separate meetings, according to media reports.

Curfew remained in place in Indian occupied Kashmir (IoK) for the 57th consecutive day, with Indian forces using brute force to subdue the Kashmiri people. Amid all this, Indian Home Minister Rajnath Singh also reached the occupied valley prompting protests by the people.

The Kashmiri people held rallies and chanted slogans against Modi government. Pro-independence protesters set fire to mini-secretariat building and office of the deputy commission in Shopian.

Singh tried to hold meeting with Hurriyet leaders, in prisons or under house arrest for weeks, but to no avail.

A high-level Indian delegation led by Rajnath Singh tried to hold separate meetings with Hurriyet leader Syed Ali Geelani, Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front chief Yaseen Malik and former Hurriyet chairman Abdul Ghani Butt, suggested media reports.

Yet, none of the Kashmiri leaders agreed to see Singh. They made it clear to the Indian officials that as long as atrocities in IOK are not ceased, no talks can be held to ease tensions in the occupied territory.