Without making any reference to Hurriyat Conference or any other “separatist” leader, the APD statement asked the central and state governments “to take steps for a dialogue with all stakeholders”.
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Coming out with a unanimous resolution, the political parties appealed to the people of the State to shun the path of violence and resolve all issues through dialogues. While some opposition leaders met Hurriyat Conference leaders lodged in various sub jails, hardliner Syed Ali Shah Geelani refused to meet them. Mr Singh had said more than 30 delegations comprising 300 members from political parties, civil society, fruit growers, students, professors and intellectuals had presented their view before the delegation. “The delegation feels there’s no place for violence in a civilised society and there can be no compromise on the issue of national sovereignty”, said Jitendra Singh, minister of state in the prime minister’s office.
“The members requested the central and state government to take steps for a dialogue with all stake-holders, and to ensure that educational institutions, Government offices and Commercial establishments start functioning normally at the earliest”. Singh said the news reports were incorrect and there was no such proposal. “Families of the injured and dead people should be compensated”, he said, adding that there has to be a rehabilitation package also for all the violence-affected people.
The political consensus creates room for the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) to recalibrate its otherwise strident stand of no talks with separatists and, thereby, widen the political dialogue to defuse the violent unrest that has disrupted life in the Kashmir valley for close to two months now.
“It’s time for them (Hurriyat) to ponder that if they can talk to Pakistan and speak to then Pakistani High Commissioner, then why can’t they look for a solution to the problems within the four corners of India’s constitution?”
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. “We have given our suggestions”.
As confidence building measures (CBMs), Owaisi also asked the ruling side to ask Lakshadweep administrator Farooq Khan to withdraw his plea in the J&K high court, seeking repeal of Article 370 that accords special status to the state.
The use of non-lethal weapon, Pellet Guns, as a means to control the violent crowds in Kashmir came under attacks from several quarters as it resulted in massive injuries on the protesters. The government needs to provide support to all the injured. Also, AFSPA should be lifted from civilian areas.
The Indian government has chose to scale down security of Kashmiri separatist leaders, withdraw their passports, scrutinize bank accounts and direct state police to complete pending investigations in cases against them.
Talking to reporters after the meeting Ram Madhav said, the meeting deliberated on the Kashmir situation and that future course of action will be decided after the all party meeting to be held today.
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Home Minister had also lined up meetings with the Army Chief Dalibir Singh and Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi ahead of his meeting with the President. The Army chief will be briefed about the security grid along the LoC and anti-militancy operations in the hinterland by senior army officers and local formation commanders, sources said.
