SRINAGAR: Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh today began his two-day Kashmir visit to give a healing touch to the restive Valley, with two trade bodies boycotting him as curfew was lifted from four districts and parts of Srinagar town but remained in force in other areas as a precautionary measure.
Barring stray incidents of stone-pelting, the day passed off peacefully.
As the situation in the troubled Valley, which was on the boil for several days following the killing of militant commander Burhan Wani on July 8 in an encounter with security forces, somewhat eased, Home Minister Rajnath Singh began his visit of the state to take stock of the situation.
Singh met BJP ministers in the Mehbooba Mufti Government, including Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh. A group of Muslim clerics also met Singh at the high-security Nehru Guest House. A delegation of Shikarawalas and houseboat owners also called on the Home Minister and apprised him of their problems.
A Home Ministry release said Singh would meet Governor N N Vohra and the Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti later today. Mehbooba was away meeting families of those killed in action by security forces when Singh arrived here.
Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) and Kashmir Economic Alliance (KEA), two major representative trade bodies in the Valley, decided not to meet the Home Minister, saying such exercises in the past have been futile. (AGENCIES)
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