Opposition For Talks With Hurriyat Ahead Of All-Party Team's Kashmir Visit

New Delhi: Ahead of the visit of an all-party delegation to Jammu and Kashmir, political parties today called for holding dialogue with "all stakeholders", including Hurriyat, to douse the unrest that has crippled the state for nearly two months since the killing of terrorist Burhan Wani.

After a meeting held by the government to brief the lawmakers who are part of the 30-member delegation, leaders from Congress and CPI(M) said all stakeholders should be approached during the two-day visit of the delegation to Jammu and Kashmir beginning tomorrow.

"Government should invite Hurriyat for talks with the all-party delegation.... The invitation extended to others should be given to Hurriyat also. It is up to them whether they want to meet the delegation," CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury said.

Mr Yechury said government should make "tangible" announcement like a ban on pellet guns, withdrawal of AFSPA from civilian areas and rehabilitation and compensation package for those who lost their lives in recent violence as a follow up of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's statement of taking peace initiative on the basis of 'Insaniyat, Jamuriyat and Kashmiriyat'.

The delegation will interact with individuals and groups aiming to bring peace in the Valley, which has been facing unrest following the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist Burhan Wani in an encounter on July 8.

Leader of the opposition in the Rajya Sabha and Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad said the UPA is open to holding dialogue with all stakeholders.

"We have said that the option of dialogue should be open to all stakeholders. The government should open the dialogue with all stakeholders. The centre and the state government know who the stakeholders are. They have to identify the stakeholders and invite," he said.

Mr Azad also said the pellet guns should be replaced with less lethal options to control protesters in Kashmir Valley.