Govt open to dialogue with all sections in J&K: PC

Stating that the situation in Jammu and Kashmir is not yet normal,Union Home Minister P Chidambaram on Friday reiterated that the Centre was open to quiet dialogue with all sections of opinion in the state....

Stating that the situation in Jammu and Kashmir is not yet normal,Union Home Minister P Chidambaram on Friday reiterated that the Centre was open to quiet dialogue with all sections of opinion in the state.

The situation in Jammu and Kashmir is not yet normal. Repeated calls for bandh have paralyzed normal life in the Valley. Security forces continue to operate in a difficult situation,exercising maximum restraint. The government of J&K has announced some measures and I hope that these would help in normalising the situation, the Home Minister said while presenting his ministrys report card for the month of July.

From day one,I have favoured a quiet dialogue with all sections of opinion,all groups,all political parties. I continue to meet leaders of different groups and political parties, the Home Minister said,adding that there had been some interruptions in the process.

Story continues below this ad

But we are always prepared to meet everyone who is willing to meet us. The Prime Minister said he favours a dialogue with all groups. The Chief Minister of the state is encouraged to meet all groups. There is no reservation at all. We are willing to talk to our own people, he added.

Presumably, said Chidambaram when asked whether any political party in the state was involved in disrupting the peace in the Valley.

Chidambaram said that though separatists were able to mobilise support,urge people to indulge in stone pelting and call bandhs in Srinagar and some other towns,there were still many areas in the Valley which were by and large normal.