New Delhi, (PTI) The All Party Delegation (APD) that visited
Jammu and Kashmir today pitched for dialogue with all stakeholders
which the government reciprocated by saying it was prepared for discussions
with all but made no reference to separatists Hurriyat Conference.
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 meeting, chaired by Home Minister Rajnath Singh, who led the
delegation, made it clear that there would be no compromise on national
sovereignty.
The political parties appealed to the people of the state to shun
the path of violence and resolve all issues through dialogue and discussion.
"The members of the delegation are of the opinion that there is
no place for violence in a civilised society. There can be no compromise
on issue of national sovereignty," the resolution, read out by Minister
of State in PMO Jitendra Singh, said.
While the resolution requested the central and state governments
to take steps for dialogue with all stake holders, Left Parties batted
for resumption of Indo-Pak dialogue and announcement of confidence
building measures like withdrawal of AFSPA from civilian areas.
Without making any reference to separatists including Hurriyat Conference,
the APD statement asked the Central and state governments "to take
steps for a dialogue with all stake holders". While some opposition
leaders met Hurriyat Conference leaders lodged in various sub jails,
hardliner Syed Ali Shah Geelani refused to meet them.
Asked whether separatists would also come under the purview of "stakeholders",
MoS in PMO said the Home Minister is open for dialogue with "all
stake holders". He did not elaborate.
To a similar question, Congress leader in Lok Sabha Mallikarjun
Kharge said the separatist amalgamate is part of the "all stake holders".
Yechury said there was no discussion on the performance of Mehbooba
Mufti-led Jammu and Kashmir government but leader of All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul
Muslimeen leader Asaduddin Owaisi said personally he felt that the
PDP-BJP government has failed to handle the current situation, which
continued for too long, leading to "the present mess".
"This is not the time to blame. This is the time to work unitedly
for bringing peace in Kashmir," Yechury said.
Owaisi said in the APD meeting that a non-BJP and
non-Congress fact-finding team of political parties should visit
Jammu and Kashmir to meet a cross section of people to ascertain
the loss of lives due to violence.
While demanding release of those "illegally jailed" in the Kashmir
Valley, the AIMIM leader said Union Home Minister should talk to
the editors of four leading newspapers of Kashmir.
Yechury said government should follow up its Kashmir outreach initiative
by taking concrete steps like former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee,
who had declared a unilateral ceasefire and held talks with militant
group Hizbul Mujahideen.
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.
Expressing serious concern over the prevailing situation in the
state, the APD statement said the members of the delegation were
of the view that there is no place for violence in a civilised society.
"There can be no compromises on the issues of national sovereignty," it added.
The meeting asked both the governments to take steps to ensure that
education institutions, government offices and commercial establishment
start functioning normally at the earliest.
They requested the government to take effective steps to ensure
security for all citizens and provide medical treatment to citizens
and security personnel injured in agitation.
Yechury and Owaisi said the Home Minister denied that there was
a plan to curtail the security provided to separatist leaders.