All-party meet on Kashmir ends: Invite Hurriyat for talks, says Opposition

The Opposition said that the government should invite Hurriyat Conference for talks, announce confidence building measure during its Kashmir visit and keep open channels of dialogue after the all-party meet ended in New Delhi on Saturday. Coming out of a briefing held by the government for members of the delegation, CPM general secretary Sitaram Yechury said, “Government should invite Hurriyat for talks with the all-party delegation” when it visits Kashmir from Sunday. He also suggested that confidence building measures should be announced during the visit of the delegation.

Channels of dialogue should be always open, GoI needs to decide who the stakeholders are: GN Azad #KashmirDelegation pic.twitter.com/YWZOzkAAWI

— ANI (@ANI) September 3, 2016

Everyone gave their suggestions. When we return from Kashmir this delegation will meet here again: HM Rajnath Singh pic.twitter.com/mOYXaUK2Z7

— ANI (@ANI) September 3, 2016

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An interactive session to brief MPs who will be part of an all-party delegation to Jammu and Kashmir was held today to make them aware of the prevailing situation in the state and contours of the tour during which they will hold talks with a cross-section of people. Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar, Minister of State in PMO Jitendra Singh and top officials were to make presentations at the meeting. The prevailing ground situation in Jammu and Kashmir, positions, and views of different stakeholders, individuals and groups were conveyed to the parliamentarians. The exercise was undertaken to ensure that all MPs speak in tandem and there is consensus among the lawmakers while speaking to a cross-section of people, aiming to bring peace in the state, sources said. The meeting is expected to take note about possible individuals and groups with whom the delegation may interact during its two-day tour beginning tomorrow. The source said the members of the delegation are free to meet anyone, including separatists. However, Home Minister Rajnath Singh or any other central minister will meet only those who are ready to resolve all issues within the framework of the Constitution. [caption id=“attachment_2989424” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] A file image of the unrest in Kashmir. PTI[/caption] The delegation will interact with individuals and groups aiming to bring peace in the Valley, which has been facing unrest following the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen militant Burhan Wani on 8 July. Apart from the Home Minister and Jitendra Singh, those who will be part of the all-party delegation include Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, leader of opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad, his Lok Sabha colleague Mallikarjun Kharge, senior Congress leader Ambika Soni, Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan (LJP), JD-U leader Sharad Yadav, CPM general secretary Sitaram Yechury and CPI leader D Raja. NCP’s Tariq Anwar and Trinamool Congress’ Saugata Roy, Shiv Sena’s Sanjay Raut and Anandrao Adsul, TDP’s Thota Narasimham, Shiromani Akali Dal’s Prem Singh Chandumajra, BJD’s Dilip Tirkey, AIMIM’s Asaduddin Owaisi, AIUDF’s Badaruddin Ajmal and Muslim League’s E Ahamed will be party of the delegation. TRS’ Jitendra Reddy, N K Premchandran (RSP), P Venugopal (AIADMK), Tiruchi Siva (DMK), Y B Subba (YSR-Cong), Jaiprakash Yadav (RJD), Dharamveer Gandhi (AAP) and Dushyant Chautala (RLD) are also in the team. BSP and Samajwadi Party have extended their support but have not been able to nominate any of their members. With inputs from PTI