Centre appeals to Kashmiri youth not to get misguided by 'protagonists of terrorism'

Days after Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti appealed to the parents to stop their children from participating in violent protests over the killing of militant Burhan Wani, Minister of State in Prime Minister's Office Jitendra Singh on Saturday said that the youth of Kashmir should not get misguided by 'protagonists of terrorism" who are sacrificing themselves for what has been described as a freedom fight.

"I think it is important for them to realize that they should not get misguided by the so-called protagonists of terrorism who are sacrificing them at the altar of what they subjectively describe as a freedom fight; at the same time they have ensured that their own children are lodged in safe havens," he said.

On Tuesday, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti blamed 'vested interests' for the unrest in Kashmir and promised to work out a mechanism to ensure a dignified living for the kin of victims of violence.

At least 37 people, reportedly, fell victim to the clashes between protesters and security forces after Hizbul Mujaideen commander Burhan Wani was gunned down in Kashmir in an encounter.

Singh further said that we live in an evidence based era and the "awakened" youth should pose questions to those who influence people to join Jihad.

"We live in an evidence based era; our youth has awakened enough to ask questions. The question that common youth of Kashmir ought to ask is those who ask me to join this so-called war for freedom or jihad is where are their children? Have their children already joined these ranks!" he said.

Lashing at out Pakistan for the hatching out conspiracy against India, he asserted that Indian government and Indian people at large are ready to face any kind of terrorists.

"Pakistan has always been trying to fish in the troubled waters of Jhelum and the conspiracies have been hatched in Islamabad, but I can tell you with all the confidence in my command that the security agencies of India, the Government of India, the society of India at large is ready to face any kind of terrorists," he told the media here.

Burhan Wani an Internet-savvy Kashmiri terrorist was a resident of Dadsara village in south Kashmir's Tral area. He left his home in 2010, days before taking the Class 10 examination to join the region's frontline indigenous militant outfit Hizbul Mujaideen.

He soon rose to become its district commander and figured in the list of most wanted militants.