Mission Kashmir: All-party delegation arrives in Srinagar

An all-party delegation, led by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, on Sunday arrived in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti yesterday invited Hurriyat leaders for talks with the all-party delegation. This came after the opposition parties suggested the government to invite the Hurriyat Conference for talks during the meeting chaired by the Home Minister wherein the itinerary of the visit was discussed.

Rajnath said the Centre would take a final decision with regard to Kashmir unrest on the basis of feedback and suggestions given by the all party-delegation.

The delegation was made aware of the prevailing situation in the state and contours of the tour during which they will hold talks with a cross-section of people.

Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party (JKNPP) yesterday condemned the nnion and state governments' "decision" to allow political parties to meet the all-party delegation only in Kashmir Valley, terming the move as an "insult" to political leadership of Jammu region.

Apart from the Home Minister and Minister of State in PMO Jitendra Singh, those who will be part of the all-party delegation include Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, leader of opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad, his Lok Sabha colleague Mallikarjun Kharge, senior Congress leader Ambika Soni, Ram Vilas Paswan (LJP), JD-U leader Sharad Yadav, Sitaram Yechury and CPI leader D Raja.

NCP's Tariq Anwar and Saugata Roy, Shiv Sena's Sanjay Raut and Anandrao Adsul, TDP's Thota Narasimham, Shiromani Akali Dal's Prem Singh Chandumajra, BJD's Dilip Tirkey, AIMIM's Asaduddin Owaisi, AIUDF's Badaruddin Ajmal and Muslim League's E Ahamed will be part of the delegation.

TRS' Jitendra Reddy, N K Premchandran (RSP), P Venugopal (AIADMK), Tiruchi Siva (DMK), Y B Subba (YSR-Cong), Jaiprakash Yadav (RJD), Dharamveer Gandhi (AAP) and Dushyant Chautala (RLD) are also in the team..

The valley is facing unrest due to protests in the aftermath of the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani on July 8 amid which over 70 people have lost their lives and thousands others have been injured.