The delegation had come here to cool the volatile situation arising out of violent protests that have gripped the Valley since the killing of Hizbul militant Burhan Wani on July 8.
Advertisement
“We had asked the government that we intend to meet all but that has not happened because there is nobody from the separatists in the list”, Left leader Sitaram Yechuri told reporters while accompanying Omar Abdullah out of the SKICC.
The visit “will be beneficial for Kashmir and for the country”, he said, adding everyone wants peace in the state.
Azad, however, said like in the past, some parties and MPs in their personal capacity met some people (Hurriyat), to which they did not object. In between, representatives of different parties talk to their respective party members about the entire proceeding. Even the senior coalition partner People’s Democratic Party and main opposition party National Conference want the Centre to talk to “all stakeholders”.
Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge said all parties were cooperating with the government and their sole aim was restoration of normalcy in the state. We are cooperating with the government.
“All parties are cooperating for that. We can go ahead with the process of engaging the stakeholders”, Owaisi said.
But is not clear whether the delegation will speak to separatists.
The separatist leaders also lashed out at Mehbooba, alleging that she was playng the “role of obfuscation”.
The four MPs tried to meet separatist Shabir Shah as well. “People know that it is the same parliament which has given unfettered powers to their occupying force to use violence to hold Jammu and Kashmir forcibly with India against all norms of civilised behaviour and worldwide law resulting in death, destruction, collective punishments and humiliation”, the Hurriyat said in a statement today. “And then, they meet to find a solution to the problem”.
Yechury said a final solution was impossible without involving Pakistan.
Sources privy to the meeting said Dr Haseeb Drabu made a presentation on behalf of the state government to the delegation about the steps that should be taken for resolving the crisis. We will not be able to arrive at any solution if India only talks to Kashmiris or Pakistan talks to Kashmiris. It was also stressed upon that the recommendations of Working Groups and Parliamentary delegations need to be considered. However, various separatist group, the representative bodies of the Valley’s doctors and lawyers and minority Sikhs have already announced that they would boycott the visit.
Earlier, PM Modi on Friday called for “development” and “trust” as the two key elements required to address the problem dogging the troubled region.
“It is this sense of alienation and isolation that fuels all agitations in Kashmir including the current one”, it said. “125 crore people of the country are ready to give “vikas” and there has never been dearth of “vishwas”. “This includes everybody”, Singh said, going back to the three principles floated by former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee.
Advertisement
At many places along the feeder and arterial road network connecting the capital city with the rest of the valley, multiple checkpoints have been set up where commuters are frisked and their curfew passes checked before allowing them to proceed.
