Govt briefs MPs of all-party delegation over Kashmir unrest

New Delhi: An interactive session to brief MPs who will be part of an all-party delegation to Jammu and Kashmir was held on Saturday to make them aware of the prevailing situation in the state and contours of the tour during which they will hold talks with a cross-section of people. Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar, Minister of State in PMO Jitendra Singh and top officials were to make presentations at the meeting. The prevailing ground situation in Jammu and Kashmir, positions and views of different stake holders, individuals and groups were conveyed to the parliamentarians. The exercise was undertaken to ensure that all MPs speak in tandem and there is consensus among the lawmakers while speaking to a cross-section of people, aiming to bring peace in the state, sources said. The meeting is expected to take note about possible individuals and groups with whom the delegation may interact during its two-day tour beginning tomorrow. The source said the members of the delegation are free to meet anyone, including separatists. However, Home Minister Rajnath Singh or any other central minister will meet only those who are ready to resolve all issues within the framework of the Constitution. The delegation will interact with individuals and groups aiming to bring peace in the Valley, which has been facing unrest following the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen militant Burhan Wani on July 8. Apart from the Home Minister and Jitendra Singh, those who will be part of the all-party delegation include Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, leader of opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad, his Lok Sabha colleague Mallikarjun Kharge, senior Congress leader Ambika Soni, Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan (LJP), JD-U leader Sharad Yadav, CPI-M general secretary Sitaram Yechury and CPI leader D Raja. NCP's Tariq Anwar and Trinamool Congress' Saugata Roy, Shiv Sena's Sanjay Raut and Anandrao Adsul, TDP's Thota Narasimham, Shiromani Akali Dal's Prem Singh Chandumajra, BJD's Dilip Tirkey, AIMIM's Asaduddin Owaisi, AIUDF's Badaruddin Ajmal and Muslim League's E Ahamed will be party of the delegation. TRS' Jitendra Reddy, N K Premchandran (RSP), P Venugopal (AIADMK), Tiruchi Siva (DMK), Y B Subba (YSR-Cong), Jaiprakash Yadav (RJD), Dharamveer Gandhi (AAP) and Dushyant Chautala (RLD) are also in the team. BSP and Samajwadi Party have extended their support but have not been able to nominate any of their members.