New Delhi, Aug 22 (KNS): Prime Minister Narendra Modi today told a delegation of opposition leaders from Jammu and Kashmir that development alone could not solve every issue indicating that centre may be considering a political initiative to put an end to the unrest that has roiled the state for over a month.
"There has to be dialogue and we need to find a permanent and lasting solution to the problem within the framework of the Constitution," a government statement said after the meeting.
Jammu and Kashmir Congress Chief Ghulam Ahmed Mir said, "The Prime Minister did agree development isn't the only way out, indicating there was perhaps a thinking to start a dialogue. We are hopeful that it will happen soon."
Speaking to reporters, former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah also confirmed that PM Modi said development only couldn't solve the current crisis.
Talking to KNS over phone from Delhi the CPI(M) Secretary and MLA Kulgam M.Y.Tarigami who was part of the delegation which met the Prime Minister said “ We told in categorical terms to Prime Minister that leaving aside development and law and order the roots of the trouble in Kashmir lie in the dialogue process.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel
Prime Minister was generous enough to agree that the issue is not only connected to the development. Above all he said security forces are not an option but a compulsion for the government”
Kashmir has been under curfew for the last 45 days, since the killing of terrorist Burhan Wani. Nearly 70 people have died and over 5,000 injured in clashes with security forces trying to quell the unrest.
The opposition delegation submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister today, expressing its anguish over the loss of lives in the valley and to express "dismay at the lack of a political approach to deal with the situation."
The delegation also asked the centre to ensure pellet guns - that have caused most of the injuries among civilians - are not used any more.
On Saturday the opposition had backed the army's call for dialogue among all stakeholders in Kashmir, expressing disappointment at the government not bringing up talks.
As the unrest continued in Kashmir, the army on Friday appealed for calm, saying "everyone needs to step back" and sit together to find a way out of the current situation. (With Inputs from NDTV)