Start talks with separatists, others in J-K: Panel to govt

Government should hold talks with all stakeholders in Jammu and Kashmir including separatists at the earliest besides taking other measures including ban on use of pellet guns and rehabilitation package for those injured in the unrest, a report by a group of private citizens led by BJP leader Yashwant Sinha recommends.

The delegation, which comprised intellectuals, released the report on Tuesday to the media and spoke about the nature of meetings it held with separatist leaders including Syed Ali Shah Geelani and other mainstream politicians. 

The report was released by Programme Director of Centre for Dialogue and Reconciliation Sushobha Barve, who was part of the delegation. It said Geelani and Hurriyat Chairman Mirwaiz Umer Farooq “talked of being prepared for an unconditional dialogue” and it was not within the competence of the group of citizens to suggest “when or if such a dialogue process should be started”.