Government making all efforts to restore peace in J&K: MoS Home Hansraj Gangaram Ahir

NEW DELHI: The Centre is making all efforts to restore peace in Kashmir Valley, which is facing protests over the killing of Hizbul poster boy Burhan Wani, Union minister Hansraj Gangaram Ahir today said.

After assuming the charge as the Minister of State for Home, he told reporters, "The central government wants that peace be restored in Jammu and Kashmir as early as possible. We are making all efforts for it."

The minister said Home Minister Rajnath Singh was personally monitoring the situation in the Valley and has directed officials to ensure that paramilitary forces in Kashmir provide all assistance to the state government for restoration of peace and normalcy in the Valley.

Ahir said Singh is planning to speak to leaders of different political parties about the situation in the Valley, where at least 23 have so far been killed during protests over Wani's killing.

Singh has already spoken to Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.

Ahir, however, parried a query on whether the situation was handled properly.

Ahir is a four-time MP from Maharashtra. Prior to taking over as MoS Home, he served as MoS (Chemicals and Fertilizers) in the Modi government.