Mehbooba hails dialogue between Omar, PM Modi

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Tuesday hailed the talks between her predecessor Omar Abdullah and Prime Minister Narendra Modi with regard to the unrest in Kashmir and said that all main stream parties should make efforts to improve the situation in the state.

Mehbooba said, "It is good that Omar Sahib met the Prime Minster and the President. All the main stream parties should make efforts to improve the situation of Jammu and Kashmir whenever needed."

"The people of Jammu and Kashmir are for peace. All want a solution to this problem. 95 percent people want a solution, miscreants are just five percent," she added.

Earlier on Monday, Prime Minister Modi emphasized on dialogue to find a "permanent and lasting solution" to the problems of Kashmir within the framework of the Constitution.

Addressing the concerns of the opposition delegation led by Omar, Prime Minister Modi expressed "deep concern and pain" at the prevailing situation in the state and appealed for the restoration of normality.

The National Conference president welcomed the Prime Minister's statement and extended his support for bringing normalcy in the state.

Omar said that he was not politicising the ongoing unrest but wanted a solution to the crisis.

The Prime Minister's latest remarks came at a meeting with opposition leaders from Kashmir, where street protests against last month's killing of militant commander Burhan Wani by the security forces left 67 people dead.

Speaking in Jammu on Sunday, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had described stone-throwers as "aggressors" and blamed Pakistan for the current unrest in the Valley.

The Centre yesterday rushed 2,600 additional paramilitary forces to Jammu and Kashmir, in the wake of continuous unrest in the Kashmir Valley.