Rajnath should talk to people of Kashmir to restore normalcy: Cong

The Congress Party on Wednesday urged Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh to take the people of Jammu and Kashmir into confidence and hold talks with them to ensure that normalcy is restored in the state.

Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, said the Home Minister should talk to the people of Kashmir during his two-day visit so that normalcy and peace is restored in the state.

Kharge told ANI, "We want peace in Kashmir and everybody is busy with their work, a system like this should be ensured."

Another Congress leader Tom Vadakkan stressed on people-to-people contact to end the unrest in Kashmir.

"He will do whatever he has to do, but this matter has to be taken holistically. The stakeholders, especially the leaders there and Kashmiri population should be consulted and there has to be a healing touch which is what is required," Vadakkan said.

"The leaders from PDP must move out, Congress leaders all of them must move out to the people of Jammu and Kashmir and bring back peace that is important; the people are the most important fact. It's not about Pakistan's interference or any interference. It's about taking the people into confidence so that they bring back law and order situation under control in Kashmir," he added.

Earlier in the day, the Home Minister arrived in Srinagar on a two-day visit to Kashmir during which he will review the situation in the valley.

Singh, who may hold talks with a cross section of people, is likely to emphasize the various development projects and employment schemes undertaken for the youth in the Valley.

The Home Minister, who is accompanied by Union Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi, earlier tweeted that he would interact with civil society groups, political parties and other stakeholders in Kashmir.

"I will be staying at the Nehru Guest House. Those who believe in Kashmiriyat, Insaniyat and Jamhooriyat are welcome," he tweeted.

This is the Home Minister's second visit in a month to the valley, which has been witnessing unrest since the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani on July 8.

The visit comes following Prime Minister Modi expressing deep concern and pain over the situation in Kashmir.