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No talks with Pak, but doors open for dialogue with Kashmiris : Rajnath

Chief minister Mehbooba Mufti letter to separatist leaders requesting them to meet the delegation simply cut no ice.

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“It depends on how we carry forward the dialogue and ideas to find resolution to the issue”, he said. Whatever happened you know about it.

State Congress Chief G A Mir, while appreciating the decision of the all-party delegation to hold talks with all stakeholders, said besides this there was nothing for them to offer.

Communist Party of India-Marxist leader Sitaram Yechury, Janata Dal-United’s Sharad Yadav, Rashtriya Janata Dal’s Jaiprakash Narayan Yadav, AIMIM’s Asaduddin Owaisi and Communist Party of India’s D. Raja had gone to meet Hurriyat leaders but the latter declined to meet them.

Rajnath Singh said “everybody in Kashmir wants peace and normalcy to return. Everyone is very concerned, we all are of the view that things in Kashmir need to improve”.

The all-party delegation arrived here on Sunday on a mission to initiate dialogue to restore peace in the valley that is battling almost two months of the deadliest unrest in years. At least 48 people have been killed in the protests and almost 12, 00 injured.

However, Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front chief Yasin Malik met with the delegation. “When someone goes for talks and they reject it, it is not “jamhooriyat” (democracy) as well”, he said. He said, “No two ways about fact that Jammy and Kashmir is a part of India, was a part of India and will be a part of India”.

Members of the all-party delegation extended an olive branch on Sunday, but separatists steadfastly refused to engage in any dialogue.

The government is also hoping that the apple and walnut season would compel the farmers and traders to force separatists to normalise the situation in the Valley.

With no meetings held with some separatists during the delegation’s visit to state, reports said that the Centre planned to curtail their privileges as a response to the separatists’ snub to the delegation.

The members have asked the Centre and the state government to take steps to ensure that educational institutions, government offices and commercial establishments start functioning normally. “The process of dialogue needs to continue”. “It can’t be expected to happen (by rubbing) a magic lamp”, senior PDP leader and Education Minister Naeem Akhtar told reporters. “And, despite announcing employment schemes there has been no implementation at all, so announce some avenues to provide employment for Kashmiri youth”, said Yechury. It will be chaired by Home Minister Rajnath Singh.

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Singh was in Srinagar with a group of federal lawmakers to try to break the latest cycle of violence hitting the region.

Ranjath Singh addresses a press conference in Srinagar