Rajnath appeals to students across nation to treat Kashmiri students as their brothers

Expressing his agony to see stones and firearms instead of pens, books and computer in the hands of the youth of Kashmir, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh has appealed to the students across India to treat the Kashmiris as their brothers and not to discriminate against them in any manner.

Alleging that some people with vested interests were playing with the future of Kashmiris, he said, "It is sad to see stones, firearms in the hands of small kids in Kashmir. The youth should instead have pens, books and computers in their hands. But some people, for their selfish motives, guide them to take stones and firearms in their hands. Is it not true that they are playing with the future of these children?"

"Which father will ask his children or youth to give up studies and pick up stones? I want to tell those having such nefarious intentions not to encourage the innocent kids of Kashmir to pick up stones," he said.

Singh further said the Kashmiri youth should be given proper respect and love.

The Union Minister made these comments at a function to unveil a statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji at the Lucknow University on Saturday.

Asking the Kashmiris to give up violence and help in restoring normalcy, Singh said despite being politicians, they too get immensely hurt and disturbed whenever any young man or a woman is injured and dies.

The Union Home Minister had earlier trained his guns at Pakistan, saying it has constantly been trying to create unrest in the Kashmir valley.

"I don't have any doubt in saying that Pakistan wants our Kashmir to be divided into pieces. It has been regularly trying to de-stablise the conditions there," he said addressing a gathering as a part of the 70th Independence Day celebrations 'Yaad Karo Qurbani' to pay tribute to freedom fighters in Shahjahanpur.

Recalling his recent visit to Islamabad, where he attended the SAARC Home Ministers' meet, Singh said, "Recently I went to Pakistan. I said in straight-forward words that a terrorist is a terrorist and he/she cannot be glorified."

Kashmir valley has been witnessing unrest after the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist Burhan Wani on July 8.

As many as 65 people, including two police personnel, have been killed and several thousand injured in the clashes so far.