All-party members may meet separatists during Kashmir tour

Members of an all-party delegation, scheduled to visit Jammu and Kashmir from September 4, are free to meet separatists leaders in the Valley but Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, who will be leading the team, will talk to only those who believe in humanity, democracy and secularism.
During its two-day visit, the delegation will interact with a cross section of people, individuals and groups aiming to bring peace in the Valley, which has been reeling under 51 days of continuous unrest following the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen militant Burhan Wani.
The members of the delegation are free to meet anyone, including separatists, officials privy to the discussions in this regard said, adding however, the Home Minister will meet only those who are ready to resolve all issues within the framework of Constitution.

In 2010, when a similar delegation had visited the Kashmir Valley, team members, including Lok Janshakti Party chief Ram Vilas Paswan, had met Hurriyat leaders like Mirwaiz Umar Farooq.
The tour of the delegation may be extended by a day if they decide to visit Jammu to gauge the mood of the people of Jammu region.
The Home Minister yesterday had a hour-long meeting with BJP President Amit Shah, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and MoS for PMO Jitendra Singh and discussed with them the modalities of the all-party delegation.

Sources said the meeting discussed the possible individuals and groups with whom the delegation may interact during its tour of the troubled state.

The government has sounded out different political parties to convey the names of their functionaries who will be part of the team.
Yesterday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had spoken about the Kashmir situation in his 'Mann Ki Baat' programme.
"'Ekta' (unity) and 'Mamata' (affection) was the crux of all interactions I had recently on Kashmir situation," he had said.
Modi said those pushing youth towards stone pelting in Kashmir will some day have to answer them. He also said that all political parties spoke in one voice on Kashmir, sending out a strong message to the world as well as separatists

Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti had met Modi on Saturday.