The Centre on Wednesday accepted Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti's request for suspension of operations in Kashmir during Ramzan.
The home ministry said in a statement that the Centre asked security forces not to launch operations in Jammu & Kashmir during the holy month of Ramzan. It noted that this decision was taken to help people observe Ramzan in a peaceful environment.
“Security forces reserve the right to retaliate if attacked or if necessary to protect the lives of innocent people. Government expects everyone to cooperate with this initiative and help the Muslim brothers and sisters to observe Ramzan peacefully and without any difficulties,” the statement further said.
“It is important to isolate the forces that bring a bad name to Islam by resorting to mindless violence and terror,'' the home ministry noted.
The appeal for ceasefire in the month of Ramzan was made by Mufti after an all-party meeting was convened to discuss the situation in Kashmir. After the meeting, the chief minister claimed that all parties agreed to appeal to the government of India for a ceasefire on the occasions of Eid and Amarnath Yatra on the lines Atal Bihari Vajpayee's unilateral ceasefire in 2002 so that people get some relief.
She pointed out that the encounters and search operation are causing a lot of inconveniences to people.
''As Ramzan and Yatra are coming, we must try to take steps that will help restore the confidence of people of the state,'' she said, adding, ''An atmosphere needs be to created in which Eid as well as the Yatra pass peacefully.''
However, BJP's J&K spokesman Sunil Sethi in a press conference that a unilateral ceasefire is not in the national interest under the present circumstances.
''Militants are holed up and they are cornered. In this situation, talking about unilateral ceasefire (is not feasible),'' Sethi said. ''On this issue, BJP doesn't share the opinion that unilateral ceasefire should be declared.”
Mufti had also failed to win the support of opposition the National Conference and the Congress on the question of a ceasefire in Kashmir.
She had also suggested that members of all political parties should meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and request him for ceasefire in Kashmir.
The request for ceasefire in Kashmir received support from Concerned Citizens Group, inclduing former Union minister Yashwant Sinha and former chief information commissioner Wajahat Habibullah. The group said it strongly endorses the joint demand of the political parties of Jammu and Kashmir for a ceasefire during the sacred month of Ramzan.
"The security forces must observe the ceasefire strictly and should fire only when fired upon," it said.
The group said the government of India must, in the meanwhile, initiate a purposeful dialogue with all stakeholders in a time-bound manner.
The suspension of operations reprieve came as a huge relief to Mufti and her party, the PDP, which is in the eye of a storm over continued civilian and militant killings.
The PDP, which won the public support in the late 90s for endorsing the demand for an end to abuse by security forces, is finding increasingly in the dock for presiding over continued civilian deaths in the state.
The acceptance of Mufti's request for suspension of operations will help the party to shift the blame of ending the cycle of killings on militants.