J&K issue of national interest, needs common solution: APD

*Intend to talk to all who want peace: HM

Sanjeev Pargal

JAMMU, Sept 4: The All Party Delegation (APD) headed by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, which reached Srinagar today on a two-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir, was unanimous that Jammu and Kashmir is an issue of national interest and required common solution even as Rajnath said they intended to talk to individuals and groups, who want peace and normalcy in the Kashmir Valley.
An official statement released by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, headed by Rajnath Singh, tonight after the All Party Delegation met nearly 200 members in 30 delegations at Srinagar, said the All Party Delegation was of the view that Jammu and Kashmir is a matter of national interest and a “common solution” was required to it.
It quoted Rajnath as saying that “we intend to talk to individuals and groups who want peace and normalcy in the Kashmir Valley”.
Meanwhile, sources told the Excelsior that though some delegation members in their individual capacity went to meet the Hurriyat Conference leaders and separatists, the APD stuck to its stand that it would meet all stakeholders, who want peace and restoration of normalcy in the Valley.
“All those, who came to meet the APD were given patient hearing and their suggestions (to contain unrest in the Valley and address Kashmir problem) were carefully noted,” they said, adding the APD members were unanimous that violence should end in the Valley. However, they said, there can be no compromise with the national interests.
“The delegation refused to reply to the Hurriyat Conference and separatist leaders’ poser questioning their mandate to talk to them and didn’t take any note of a joint statement issued by the separatists rejecting Chief Minister and PDP president Mehbooba Mufti’s offer inviting them for talks with the All Party Delegation,” sources said.
Separatist leaders including Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq (both heading separate faction of Hurriyat Conference) and Yasin Malik (JKLF) issued a joint statement this morning rejecting Mehbooba Mufti’s invitation, extended to them and other separatist leaders last evening through a letter written by her, for a meeting with the Central team in Srinagar today describing it as “deceitful measure” and calling for transparent agenda based dialogue to address Kashmir problem.
Sources said Rajnath-led 27 member delegation didn’t take any note of Hurriyat Conference or other separatists rejecting Mehbooba Mufti’s invitation for talks with the Central team. The delegation maintained silence and made no appeal to the separatists to come and meet them saying Rajnath had only yesterday made an appeal after meeting the delegation members in New Delhi calling upon all stakeholders to come and meet them.
According to sources, Rajnath Singh, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and Minister of State in Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), Dr Jitendra Singh, who were three official members in 27-member delegation, were categorically of the view that the delegation will hold talks on agenda set by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during All Party Meeting on Jammu and Kashmir in New Delhi on August 22 for dialogue under `Insaniyat, Kashmiriyat and Jamhooriyat’. The Prime Minister had also stated that the talks would be held under the ambit of Constitution of India.
Sources said the APD members urged the delegations that called on them during the day in Srinagar to suggest measures for restoration of peace and normalcy in the Kashmir Valley, which has been shattered for past 58 days, leading to the killing of 73 people and injuries to over 8000 others, half of them para-military and police personnel.
The APD members posed various queries to host of delegations, which included from political parties, social, religious trade organizations, educationists including Vice Chancellors and various other members of the Civil Society on the 58-day long Kashmir unrest and the steps both Centre and State Governments could take to address Kashmir problem.
The APD members noted the suggestions given by various political parties, organizations and individuals on Kashmir unrest, which had erupted after Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani was killed in an encounter on July 8 in Kokernag.
Sources said BJP’s Lok Sabha member from Ladakh, Thupstan Chhewang, took the All Party Delegation to task for ignoring Ladakh region by confining their two-day visit to Srinagar and Jammu only.
“If justice was not done to Ladakh, the people will be forced to take extreme steps,” he cautioned and wanted to know whether Ladakh is not part of Jammu and Kashmir as the APD was not visiting there.
Asserting that Jammu and Ladakh regions shouldn’t suffer at the cost of Kashmir, Chhewang said whether the Government wants the people of peaceful regions to indulge in stoning before listening to them and address their problems.
According to sources, most of the APD members concurred with Ladakh MP’s view point that all three regions of Jammu and Kashmir should get due and equal focus.
On National Panthers Party’s statement, sources said the NPP name figured in list of the delegations, which were scheduled to meet the APD. NPP leader Harshdev Singh was scheduled to lead the delegation in Srinagar but he didn’t turn up.
Meanwhile, an official statement issued by the Union Home Ministry tonight said an All Party Delegation led by the Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh reached Srinagar today.
“During the first day of its visit, the delegation met about 200 members in about 30 delegations from various sections of society and listened to their point of view to reach at a common solution to the current scenario in Jammu and Kashmir,” it said.
The statement said the Home Minister chaired the meeting of All Party delegation which was attended by Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti. During the meeting, a detailed presentation was given by the State Government highlighting various issues related to the current scenario in Jammu and Kashmir. It was emphasized that a clear roadmap needs to be drawn with a focus on the way forward. It was also stressed upon that the recommendations of Working Groups and Parliamentary delegations need to be considered.
“While interacting with the delegation, Mehbooba Mufti said that Kashmir is a common issue of national interest and should not be viewed as a political issue. All the parties agreed to this fact and emphasized that steps need to be taken to restore normalcy and peace in Kashmir at the earliest,” the Home Ministry statement said, adding that the Chief Minister thanked all the parties for visiting the State to listen to the problems of people of Jammu and Kashmir. She also thanked the members for holding discussions on the issue of J&K in Parliament. Mehbooba emphasized that media needs to be sensitive while reporting on such issues like the current happenings in Kashmir.
The statement said the All Party Delegation also met the representatives of various political parties, who expressed their concern over the injuries to civilians due to the use of pellet guns. The Union Home Minister said that Government is already working on the alternatives to pellet guns such as PAVA shells.
“The National Conference led by Omar Abdullah, Indian National Congress J&K led by its president Ghulam Ahmad Mir, People’s Democratic Party led by Sartaj Madni, People’s Conference led by Sajjad Gani Lone, Communist Party of India (M) led by M Y Tarigami, Awami Itihaad Party led by Er. Abdul Rashid, People’s Democratic Front led by Hakeem Mohammad Yaseen, Democratic Party Nationalist led by Ghulam Hassan Mir and BJP led by State president Sat Sharma met the All Party Delegation. These parties interacted with the delegation and expressed their views and ground level experiences during the meeting,” the official statement said.
It added that in addition to the political parties, delegations of academicians, teachers and student Associations, representatives of school management, prominent NGOs, representatives of Leh, Kargil, Pahari associations, Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee, Fruit & Saffron Growers Associations, Civil Society etc. also met the All Party Delegation.
“The Jammu and Kashmir Students Welfare Association informed the All Party Delegation that they are willing to work with Government of India, hand in hand and shoulder to shoulder to bring normalcy in the State,” the Home Ministry said.
On their party, the three official members of the delegation were reported to have conveyed their concern on Kashmir situation to the political parties, organizations and Civil Society members, who met them, and declared commitment of the Central Government to take all possible initiatives to restore peace in the Valley at the earliest.
They said the Central Government was in constant touch with the State Government and was taking all initiatives to restore normalcy and ensure development of the State.
The APD will meet more delegation in Srinagar tomorrow till noon before departing for Jammu and meet delegations here. They will return to New Delhi in the evening. On reaching Delhi also, the delegation will meet again to discuss the Kashmir situation and perception of all delegation members.

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