The BJP has downplayed the Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s two-day visit to the Kashmir valley, starting Thursday, as “apolitical”, even though it comes in the midst of the ongoing Lok Sabha election and is triggering jitters among the regional parties, the National Conference (NC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The unscheduled visit also comes against the backdrop of recent peace overtures by the banned socio-religious group Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI).
“The Home Minister’s visit is apolitical. He will chair a meeting to review the arrangements for the Amarnath Yatra and meet local delegations,” BJP leader and Kashmir in-charge Sunil Sharma said, reiterating that Assembly elections in J&K “will be held soon, and Statehood will also be restored”.
The Home Minister arrived in Srinagar on Thursday evening and will review security arrangements here. He also met a delegation, which included members of the Pahari community. “We thanked the Home Minister for delivering justice to Paharis,” one member said, after the meeting. Mr. Shah’s visit comes days after the Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency went to the polls, recording a healthy voter turnout of 38% for the first time since 1999.
