Help integrate young men and women from Kashmir into mainstream: PM Modi to states

NEW DELHI: Jammu & Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti is likely to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday morning to discuss the situation in the Kashmir Valley. She is also likely to meet home minister Rajnath Singh later in the day. Prime Minister Modi on Sunday asked states to help integrate the young men and women from Kashmir into the mainstream.

Making a strong appeal to states at the third meeting of the Governing Council of NITI Aayog — attended by the chief ministers of almost all the states — PM Modi said states should organise events in J&K in which young people would like to participate. He urged them to reach out to students from J&K from time to time.

A similar appeal was made by Mufti, who said other states should “take care” of the students from Kashmir, “so that, when they return, they can act as ambassadors of that state”.

On Friday, Singh had requested chief ministers to be vigilant and not allow Kashmiris living in their state feel alienated. The comments came a few days after some Kashmiri students were assaulted in Rajasthan and a hoarding in Meerut had asked Kashmiris to leave Uttar Pradesh.

Two weeks ago, over 100 incidents of violence were reported from Kashmir following a poll boycott call by separatists. The Election Commission had postponed the byelections in Anantnag after violent protests. In recent days, widespread clashes between students and police have also been reported from universities in Kashmir.