Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Farooq Abdullah met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday to discuss the prevailing situation in the Kashmir Valley.
During the meeting, Mr Abdullah stressed for an early dialogue with all stakeholders who were willing to come to the table for talks, so that the stalemate in the Valley can come to an end.
The former chief minister said the Prime Minister listened patiently to him and was receptive to the suggestions he made. “I am sure that the PM will urgently address all the issues that have been flagged by me and others from the state,” Mr Abdullah told a news agency.
He said that his party, the National Conference, has played the role of a constructive Opposition, and would continue to do so.
“We are willing to do anything for the people of the state who have been victims of unrest for over three months now. The education sector has suffered. Tourism industry, which is the mainstay of the economy, has been hit badly,” he said.
The people living along the Line of Control and the International Border are suffering. I have requested to take into consideration all these factors and make attempts to bring some relief to the people in the state,” he said.
Mr Abdullah, however, refused to share other details about the meeting.
“The meeting took place in the most cordial atmosphere and the Prime Minister was equally concerned about the situation in the state,” the NC leader said.
As many as 85 people, including two policemen, have been killed, and thousands of others injured, in the unrest in the Valley triggered by the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen militant Burhan Wani in July.
Around 5,000 security forces personnel have also been injured in the clashes.
