Chidambaram: We must welcome PM-J&K Opposition meeting

With Union home minister Rajnath Singh set to undertake a two-day visit to the Kashmir Valley on Wednesday, the Congress on Tuesday made a strong pitch for initiating talks to calm down the situation in the state which was on the boil for the past 45 days.

“PM should initiate talks. Unless they take a step forward, situation in J&K won’t improve,” the party tweeted, quoting Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Ghulam Nabi Azad.

The remarks came close on the heels of former Union minister P. Chidambaram calling for the sending if an all-party delegation to the Valley. Mr Chidambaram had said earlier on Wednesday that the Monday meeting between a delegation of J&K Opposition parties and Prime Minister Narendra Modi must be welcomed if it is the first sign of “fresh thinking”.

“Yesterday’s meeting between PM & J&K Opposition parties: if it is the first sign of fresh thinking, we must welcome it. Next step should be sending All Parties Delegation to J&K,” the Congress leader tweeted.