All-party delegation to visit Kashmir: Rajnath

Ehsan Fazili & Majid Jahangir

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, August 25

On his second visit to Jammu and Kashmir since the current unrest started, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh here on Thursday said preparations had been set into motion to send an all-party delegation to the state to restore peace in Kashmir.

Flanked by Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, at her Fair View residence, the Home Minister appealed to all sections of people in the state, especially in the Kashmir Valley, to join hands for restoration of peace and normalcy.

Since his arrival here on Wednesday, the Home Minister met over 300 people, including leaders of different political parties, and discussed the current situation.

“We are grieved over the killings of Kashmiri youth as well as security jawans and it is painful,” Rajnath said. “I want to appeal to all people in J&K not to play with the future of the youth of Kashmir,” he said.

He said the Prime Minister is equally concerned about the killings and that the government is all for the development of the state.

When asked about talks with separatists, the Home Minister said talks are welcome with all those who believed in Kashmiriyat, Insaniyat and Jamhooriyat.

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On the use of pellet guns, the Home Minister said security personnel had been directed to exercise maximum restraint while handling the law-and-order situation. He said a committee formed to find alternatives to the use of pellet guns would submit its report in a few days. “We will give an alternative to this (pellet guns),” he said.

Mufti appealed for reconciliation and peace with dignity saying the prevailing situation is a matter of concern for the state and central governments. Mehbooba said the Prime Minister is also concerned about the situation and wanted to reach out to the people of Kashmir. She said 95 per cent people in the state were in favour of a peaceful atmosphere through dialogue, while only five per cent were against it.