Rajnath, Shah, Jaitley discuss Kashmir situation

As Jammu and Kashmir continues to be on edge, the Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday reviewed the situation in the state with the top Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders and government functionaries.

Home Minister went into a huddle with the BJP President Amit Shah, the Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and Minister of State in the PMO Jitendra Singh and discussed with them the prevailing situation in the Kashmir Valley.

The meeting discussed about the visit of the all-party delegation to Kashmir and possible dates, sources said.

The all-party delegation is likely to visit the state in the first week of September, sources said.

When asked about what transpired at the meeting, Jitendra Singh refused to elaborate, only telling reporters that Rajnath Singh is a senior leader and we have come for 'Margdarshan' (guidance).

The meeting came on a day when Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke about the Kashmir situation in his 'Mann Ki Baat' programme on All India Radio and a day after Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti met him.

Unrest continued in the Kashmir Valley for the 51st consecutive day on Sunday ever since the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen militant Burhan Wani on July 8.

The Prime Minister said in his 'Mann Ki Baat' address that any life lost in Kashmir, whether of any youth or any security personnel, is country's own loss.

"'Ekta' (unity) and 'Mamata' (affection) was the crux of all interactions I had recently on Kashmir situation," he said.

Modi said those pushing the 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.