Doors for talks always open, no need to be disappointed: JD (U)

Patna (Bihar) [India], Sept. 5 (ANI): The Janata Dal (United) on Monday said the doors for talks are open to all and there is no need to be disappointed over the fact that the Hurriyat leaders in Srinagar refused to meet members of the all-party delegation to discuss the ongoing unrest in Kashmir. "The all-party delegation had gone there with a clear mindset that they would hold talks with everyone, listen to all and take out a solution. I think they (Hurriyat leaders) have some problem or there is some instructions and so they refused to meet today and said they would meet in Delhi. The doors for talks are always open.there is no need to be disappointed," JD (U) leader Ajay Alok told ANI. Hurriyat leaders S.A.S. Geelani and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq yesterday refused to meet a group of the all-party delegation, who arrived in Srinagar to hold meetings with all the stakeholders in the state. However, Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front chief Yasin Malik met the delegation. The separatists had yesterday rejected Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti's invitation for talks with the all-party delegation. During the first day of its visit, the Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh-led 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. The Home Minister chaired the meeting of all-party delegation which was attended by Jammu and Kashmir 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 emphasised 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 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 emphasised that steps need to be taken to restore normalcy and peace in Kashmir at the earliest. The all-party delegation also met the representatives of various political parties. Various political parties 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 all-party delegation will visit Jammu tomorrow after meeting different civil society delegations in Srinagar in the morning. (ANI)