Rajnath to lead all-party delegation to Srinagar on Sep. 4

New Delhi [India], Aug. 29 (ANI): An all-party delegation, led by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, will visit Srinagar on September 4. As the unrest in the Kashmir Valley continued for the 51st consecutive day on Sunday, Singh reviewed the situation with top BJP leaders and government functionaries. Singh went into a huddle with BJP president Amit Shah, Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and Minister of State in the PMO Jitendra Singh and discussed with them the modalities of the all-party delegation visit. Curfew was relaxed in parts of Srinagar and other districts in the Valley, while shutdown and restrictions continued for 52nd consecutive day today. Curfew was lifted from Anantnag town of South Kashmir and parts of Srinagar, while it remained in force in some parts of Srinagar under the jurisdictions of police station Maharajganj and Nowhatta in Srinagar. The security forces were deployed in sensitive areas of the Valley to prevent any protests as Hurriyat Conference gave call for lockdown of all government offices except essential services. Expressing regret and remorse over the loss of lives in the Kashmir Valley, Prime Minister Narendra Modi yesterday said that any life lost in the state, whether of any youth or any security personnel, is India's loss, adding that those instigating young, innocent children will have to answer to them someday. Addressing the nation during his address in the 23rd edition of his 'Mann ki Baat' programme, Prime Minister Modi said, "Any life lost in Kashmir, whether of any youth or any security personnel, is our own loss. Those who are trying to disrupt peace in Kashmir by instigating innocent young children, they will have to reply to these young children." The situation has become so grave that the Home Minister had to spend two-days in Srinagar last week meeting with a cross-section of Kashmiri society and the state leadership to look for a way out of the present impasse caused by the protests over the elimination of Hizbul Mujahideen militant Burhan Wani last month. Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti also met Prime Minister Modi in New Delhi on Saturday and presented a three-point action plan, which includes having a substantive dialogue with separatists and Pakistan, to end the current unrest in the state. The death toll in the valley has reached 67, as another youth succumbed to his injuries in clashes that broke out between security forces and the locals in Pulwama district on Friday. (ANI)