All Party Delegation for dialogue with all stake holders in Kashmir

Neither had we said “yes” nor “no” (to their meetings). You know what happened.

OmarAbdullah, National Conference leader and former J-Kchief minister, termed the all-party delegation’s appeal “tame and sterile”, saying a sense of urgency to bring an end to the ongoing violence was missing.

On Sunday, a small group from the all-party delegation, which tried to meet and speak to separatists at their homes and in prisons, found out just how cold they were as much of the Valley remains under curfew.

Rajnath Singh said that the government was anxious about the situation in J&K. We will not be able to arrive at any solution if India only talks to Kashmiris or Pakistan talks to Kashmiris. He also referred to his tweet before embarking on his second visit to Kashmir last month that the doors were open for those who believe in these three principles.

At least 76 persons have been killed and over 12,000 injured in the weeks of the turmoil, the deadliest Kashmir has seen in six years.

Earlier in the day, before reaching Jammu, the delegation met various delegations including political parties and civil society organisations in Srinagar.

The separatists for their part had asked “people like Rajnath Singh” not to give them lessons in democracy, and rejected the talks because they had no specific agenda.

Addressing a press conference, the Home Minister spoke tough and said, “J&K was and will remain an integral part of India”.

The Centre is not planning a crackdown on separatists, sources said, a day after reports talked about scaling down of security, withdrawal of passports and scrutiny of the banks accounts of Hurriyat leaders.

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.

Speaking to media after he led an NC delegation to a meeting with the all-party delegation in Srinagar, Omar Abdullah said: “We told the delegation that the government can neither tire nor buy the present agitation”.

In response to another question, the Home Minister said he did not want to go into the debate about back channel talks with the separatists or appointment of a fresh team of interlocutors on Kashmir. “The government should announce avenues for employment generation in Kashmir”, he further said. Anger continues to rage against the government for its refusal to explicitly ban the use of pellet guns that has injured thousands of protesters.

The new chili-filled shells are said to severely irritate and temporarily immobilize their targets.

Kharge said even though the government had announced that pellet guns would be replaced by chilli-based non-lethal ammunition PAVA, one man died yesterday due to the injuries by pellets.

State Congress chief G A Mir, after meeting the delegation, said it seems it (delegation) has no roadmap.