Parties seek talks with Pak, separatists

WHILE THE Congress boycotted a meeting with Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, leaders of other mainstream parties who met him in Srinagar Sunday sought talks with separatists and Pakistan to resolve the Kashmir issue.

On the second day of his visit to the Valley, Singh met leaders of various political parties, chaired a high-level security meet and visited south Kashmir.

A seven-member NC delegation, led by former chief minister Omar Abdullah met Singh and submitted a memorandum seeking dialogue with external and internal stakeholders. “The only issue that was discussed is the current situation in the valley,” Omar said after the meeting. “We asked for an end to excessive use of force, rethink on the use of pellet guns, some relaxation in curfew... He was positive.”

The memorandum sought measures from the central and state governments. The memorandum demanded a “sustained dialogue with Pakistan and internal stakeholders, including Hurriyat Conference”.

CPM leader M Y Tarigami, Democratic Party Nationalist leader Ghulam Hassan Mir and legislator Hakim Yasin also met Singh and demanded resumption of dialogue with Pakistan and separatists.