Separatists reject interlocutors' report

The separatist camp including both moderate and hardline factions of Hurriyat Conference led by Mirwaiz Umer Farooq and Syed Ali Shah Geelani respectively were dismissive of the report.

None of the separatists had met the three-member panel but moderate faction leader Maulana Abbas Ansari had a meeting with M M Ansari, one of the three interlocutors, after the latter had visited his house.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and the CPI-M sought more time to react while main Opposition PDP welcomed it but said the recommendations needed to be implemented as well.

"Dear friends in the media, I will not be reacting to the interlocutors' report for the time being, will let you know when, and if, I am ready to," Omar tweeted.

He said he needed a few days' time to examine and discuss the report with senior colleagues before reacting.

The PDP welcomed some of the recommendations and stressed on the need to implement them on the ground. "There cannot be a cut and dry solution to Kashmir issue. It has to evolve with actual steps on ground," PDP chief spokesperson Nayeem Akhter said while expressing his party's opposition to application of Article 356 to the state and election of governor rather than selection. (MORE)