Delhi: As violence in Jammu and Kashmir showed no signs of abating for the 32nd day on Monday, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti met Home Minister Rajnath Singh here, seeking the resumption of dialogue with all stakeholders — including the separatists — that was initiated by former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee about a decade ago.
The meeting, which continued for almost two hours, was called by Mr. Singh to review the situation in the State. It was attended by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, National Security Adviser A.K. Doval and other senior officials of Home, Defence and Finance ministries.
Sources privy to the meeting told that Ms. Mufti also demanded that an all-party delegation soon visit the Valley to reverse the growing “alienation” between Kashmir and India.
After the meeting, Ms. Mufti told reporters outside North Block that she is “hopeful that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will take this as an opportunity to initiate dialogue with the people in Jammu and Kashmir to address their problems.”
“There is a need to take the same initiative of winning the hearts of the people which was taken during [Atal Bihari] Vajpayeeji’s tenure,” she said.
Bureau Report
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