Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday said that any decision to extend the unilateral ceasefire in Kashmir beyond the holy month of Ramzan would be taken only after taking into account the ground situation and discussing the issue with Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on the basis of the feedback of the security forces.

He appealed all sections of the society, including the Hurriyat, to join the talks and participate in the peace process. “You do not have to be likeminded for a dialogue. You have to be right-minded,” he said.

Singh, who was talking to media persons in Srinagar, said that he reviewed the security scenario with top brass of the security forces. He also separately met Governor NN Vohra and Mehbooba and also attended the Iftaar hosted by her.

Replying to questions whether the ceasefire would be extended till the two months duration of the Amarnath pilgrimage beginning on 28 June, the Home Minister did not rule out any possibility and said that a final decision will be taken keeping in view the overall situation in the state.

The Home Minister hit out at the Hurriyat leaders for instigating the Kashmiri youth to indulge in stone pelting whereas their own children were studying in good education institutions. J-K youth should be considered like your own children he told the Hurriyat leadership.

“Don’t play with the future of the youth here. The youth of J-K are the future of this country,” he said adding, “The entire country has an emotional connect with the youth of Jammu-Kashmir. Their talent is appreciated by the entire nation. They are an asset to the entire nation.”

“They (Separatists) can play any kind of politics, but they should not play with the future of children, these children are not only children of Kashmir but also of India, they are an asset. Keeping this in mind we took back cases of about 10,000 first time stone-pelters,” he said.

“Giving your children the best of education, and handing out stones to children of others? What is this?” Singh told the Hurriyat.

“I always felt there is a lot of talent in youth here, IAS, IIM etc results are a proof. But the youth is being misguided by certain forces,” he said.

He made it clear that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has firm conviction in finding a solution to the problem in Kashmir that was lingering on for the past 70 years. The centre’s representative Dineshwar Sharma has visited eleven times to J-K and held discussions with a cross section of the society.

“I have no hesitation in saying that our security forces including Army and Police, have worked with utmost restraint,” said the Home Minister.

“There are powers which have been trying to dissuade the youth of Jammu-Kashmir. Do these people want that the youngsters of Jammu and Kashmir play with stones and fire? Do they not want a change?” he questioned.

Singh said Pakistan should ensure that terrorism should not emanate from their soil and if they want we can assist them in wiping out terrorism in their country.

“Anti-India forces do not relish our becoming the fastest growing economy as a result of which they were triggering terrorism but we have the capacity to clear these hurdles,” he said.