Hurriyat refusing to hold talks with all-party delegation 'unacceptable': Congress

Congress said any talks have to be held within the four corners of India's Constitution

Terming the Hurriyat's move to not hold talks with the all-party delegation as 'unfortunate' and 'regrettable', the Congress gave out a clear message to "those seeking dismemberment of India", that any talks have to be held within the four corners of India's Constitution.

"It's unfortunate and regrettable because sincere attempts were made by the political parties when we debated this issue in both the houses of the parliament, twice in Rajya Sabha concerned over the developments in Kashmir , the turbulence, the violence hoping that reason will prevail, good sense will prevail," Congress leader Anand Sharma told ANI.

Asserting that Congress party insisted on all party delegation to go to Kashmir, he said that lack of response to not hold talks is unacceptable to India.

He insisted that youth of Kashmir valley return to mainstream and let normalcy be restored in the region.

"We were very clear and we remain very clear today that while we want our youth, our sons and daughters in the Kashmir valley to return to the mainstream, to make their lives, to make their stakeholder in future, to go to back to school, college and universities and let normalcy be restored," he added.

Sharma reiterated that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India.

"At the same time a clear message to those who seek dismemberment of India that any talks have to be within the four corners of India's constitution and also to remember that Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh has acceded to India legally. They are integral part of this country," Sharma said.

Earlier, Hurriyat leaders Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq shunned the offer to hold talks with the all-party delegation on Sunday that went to Srinagar, in a bid to hold meetings with all the stakeholders in the state.

However, Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front chief Yasin Malik met with the delegation.

With no meetings held with some separatists, an all-party meeting was held today in the national capital to further discuss the course of action on the Kashmir issue.