All-party delegation to J-K: It's good government finally realised need for it after 50 odd days, says Kharge

Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], Aug. 31 (ANI): With Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh set to lead an-all party delegation to Jammu and Kashmir on September 4 in an effort to normalise the restive situation in the Kashmir Valley, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge said Wednesday that it is good that the Centre has at last realised the need for such a move after 50 odd days. "It is a good thing that they have at least realised it after 50 odd days. They should now go and talk with and bring normalcy in the entire Kashmir Valley. We have been telling the government of the day since the beginning that they should take an all-party delegation, including opposition parties, to Jammu and Kashmir, but unfortunately the Prime Minister did not listen and he gave a statement after 21 days. "And now after 52 days, curfew has been lifted; suppose if they would have taken the decision early, several lives could have been saved. Therefore, taking time in arriving at a right decision harmed not only the Kashmiri people, but also caused loss of properties and national wealth." The all-party delegation will meet a cross-section of people in an effort to restore normalcy in the Valley, which has been in a restive state since the killing of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen terrorist Burhan Wani on July 8. The delegation is expected to visit Srinagar and Jammu on September 4, 5 and 6. Earlier, Rajnath Singh had reviewed the situation with top BJP leaders and government functionaries and went into a huddle with BJP president Amit Shah, Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office Jitendra Singh to discuss with them the modalities and agenda of the all-party delegation visit. Curfew has been lifted from Anantnag in South Kashmir and parts of Srinagar, while it remains in force in other parts of Srinagar that fall under the jurisdictions of the police stations of Maharajganj and Nowhatta. (ANI)