Congress hails Rajnath's J-K visit, hopes for positive outcome

New Delhi, Aug. 23 (ANI): The Congress on Tuesday hailed Union Minister Rajnath Singh's plan to visit violence-hit Kashmir and expressed hope that peace returns in the valley at the earliest. Congress spokesperson Tom Vadakkan said, "It's good that the Home Minister is going there. I think that this is the fall out of the opposition delegation which has recently met the Prime Minister." "The delegation had informed the Prime Minister and the President and the Congress vice-president of the ground zero situation. These are the circumstances under which I think Home Minister is reaching Srinagar. Be what it we may expect the healing twitch and immediate steps to ensure that the peace returns to the valley," he added. Earlier on Monday, Prime Minister Modi emphasized on dialogue to find a "permanent and lasting solution" to the problems of Kashmir within the framework of the Constitution. Addressing the concerns of the opposition delegation led by Omar, Prime Minister Modi expressed "deep concern and pain" at the prevailing situation in the state and appealed for the restoration of normality. The National Conference president welcomed the Prime Minister's statement and extended his support for bringing normalcy in the state. Omar said that he was not politicising the ongoing unrest but wanted a solution to the crisis. The Prime Minister's latest remarks came at a meeting with opposition leaders from Kashmir, where street protests against last month's killing of militant commander Burhan Wani by the security forces left 67 people dead. Speaking in Jammu on Sunday, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had described stone-throwers as "aggressors" and blamed Pakistan for the current unrest in the Valley. The Centre yesterday rushed 2,600 additional paramilitary forces to Jammu and Kashmir, in the wake of continuous unrest in the Kashmir Valley. (ANI)