Kashmir violence: J-K students meet Gadkari to discuss their problems

New Delhi, Aug 17 (ANI): The students of Jammu and Kashmir met Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Nitin Gadkari here on Tuesday to discuss the problems faced by them amid continuing unrest and killings in the valley.

Over 56 students from Kashmir University, Islamic University for Science and Technology and other professional colleges from the valley took part in the dialogue.

During his meeting with the students, Gadkari said Kashmir is an inseparable part of India and the people of Kashmir have the right to develop.

"I feel that we all should understand the basic grassroots problems. We agree that Kashmir is an inseparable part of India. We cannot tolerate its separation from India. I also agree that people who stay there, we don't have any problem with their religious rights," said Gadkari.

"Difference of opinion indicates democratic values. All the incidents are a game of action and reaction. The rights of everybody should be protected, and nobody should be discriminated on the basis of caste, religion and religion," he added, reacting on the present situation in Kashmir.

The Kashmiri students, on the other hand, said that India has long represented fear and terror.

"I mean, when the word 'India' comes to a Kashmiri's mind, a common Kashmiri, what comes in mind is a soldier with a gun in his hand. Fear and terror is all what a common Kashmiri feels," said Afsana, a student delegate.

"It's really nice to be here and to see that there are wonderful people around in India who are really ready to listen to us, to listen to our aspirations, to listen to what we feel. It's really, really good to be here and nice to know how wonderful Indian people are," she added.

The delegates are also scheduled to meet Union Home Minister P Chidambaram, BJP leader Sushma Swaraj, Islamic scholar Maulana Wahiduddin Khan and Chief Election Commissioner S. Y. Quarishi over the issue.

The Kashmir Valley is witnessing a surge of violence that has led the authorities to impose frequent curfew restrictions in several parts of the state.

A curfew was initially imposed on June 30 in parts of northern and southern Kashmir to stop demonstrations over a couple of protesters who died in police firing.

It was lifted some days later, but was again imposed as fresh violence erupted. (ANI)