New Delhi [India], Sept. 3 : Communist Party of India (Marxist) general secretary Sitaram Yechury on Saturday suggested the government to invite Hurriyat leaders for talks with the members of the all-party delegation that will be visiting Jammu and Kashmir tomorrow.
"What we are suggesting is that when the delegation goes there, something tangible outcome must be there...Amongst the tangible things, withdrawal of pellet guns and using the alternative whatever the Home Minister suggested.
It should be reconsidered whether the AFSPA should remain in civilian areas. Some other measures in terms of rehabilitation and compensation to all the victims, who lost their lives, should be announced.
So, this sort of some confidence building measures must be announced," Yechury said. "The invitation letter that has been sent to various parties and various civil society groups to come and meet us, the same letter should be sent to various factions of the Hurriyat.
If they decide not to come, it is their business. But as far as we are concerned, we have to make it very clear that we want to meet everybody and without any pre-conditions," he added.
At the meeting chaired by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, about 30 Members of Parliament, who will visit Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday, were briefed the contours of the visit.
During the two-day visit, the MPs will interact with Governor N.N. Vohra and Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, and will also be holding meetings with representatives of all political parties and other delegations in Srinagar to bring peace in the restive Valley.
As the Centre announced a special package of Rs. 200 crore to engage the youth of Jammu and Kashmir in constructive sporting activities, Yechury had earlier said, "First of all, trust deficit has to be overcomed.
Over the last 70 years, thousands of crores of rupees have gone, but still trust deficit is there. So, address the trust deficit first. That is an important issue and that is what we want to do." The Centre's package provides for construction of indoor sporting halls in all districts of the state to provide playing facilities to the youth during long winters.
Under the package, two stadiums in Srinagar and Jammu will be upgraded to the international standards, while existing stadiums at Poonch, Rajouri and Udhampur will also be upgraded.
Besides, water sport facilities will also be provided at an estimated cost of six crore rupees. A special programme 'Sports for AII' is being implemented through J-K State Sports Council for immediate engagement of youth in sporting activities by organising village-level competitions and development of popular sports, while five crore rupees have already been provided to the council for organising these activities.
Union Ministers Arun Jaitley, Dr Jitendra Singh and Ram Vilas Paswan will also be part of the delegation, besides leaders of the opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad and Mallikarjun Kharge.
JD (U) leader Sharad Yadav, Sitaram Yechury, CPI leader D. Raja, NCP's Tariq Anwar and TMC's Saugata Roy will be the part of the delegation. Other members of the delegation include Shiv Sena's Sanjay Raut, Akali Dal's Prem Singh Chandumajra, BJD's Dilip Tirkey and AIMIM's Asaduddin Owaisi.
The Valley is facing unrest due to protests in the aftermath of the killing of terrorist Burhan Wani on July 8.
The Valley has seen possibly the longest spell of protests for over 50 days in which 70 people have lost their lives so far.
Source: ANI
