Cutting across party lines, leaders said that they were hopeful of finding a solution for restoration of peace in the Valley where violent clashes have claimed 71 lives since the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani on July 8.
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Rajnath Singh further said that the expert committee that was set up, has suggested use of PAVA shells instead of pellet gun. Geelani saw them from the window but refused to meet the parliamentarians. Rajnath, addressing a press conference in Srinagar, said that J&K will always remain an integral part of India.
He said the all-party delegation has taken suggestions from the people who interacted with it for improvement of situation in Kashmir.
Home minister Rajnath Singh said on Monday that the government is concerned about the situation in Jammu and Kashmir, adding “we all are of the view that things in Kashmir need to improve”. He said the “doors are wide open” for talks with anyone interested in peace and normalcy.
The Centre may harden its attitude towards separatist leaders in Jammu and Kashmir, making their foreign travel hard and scaling down the security which they enjoy at the exchequer’s cost.
The All Party Delegation (APD) that visited Jammu and Kashmir this week today asked the Centre and the state governments to take steps for a dialogue with “all stake holders” but asserted that there can be no compromises on the issue of national sovereignty. In reply to a question, he said, “We did not say yes or no to delegation members who wanted to meet the separatists on individual capacity”.
The final decision on the actions to be taken against separatists will come after a meeting of the leaders who went to Kashmir here on Wednesday and high-level consultations within the government. “Besides, they also merited the attention of the all-party delegation towards the problems of the Jammu region”.
At the three-hour long meeting of the APD, which visited the state on September 4-5, demands were made for resumption of Indo-Pak dialogue, confidence building measures and a “dual track” approach for bringing peace in the restive Valley.
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.
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The Home Minister said the all-party delegation had discussions with leaders of political parties, civil society, university teachers and Vice-Chancellors, fruit growers, students and some intellectuals.
