Grievances of Kashmiri youth to be addressed: PM

NEW DELHI - Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Monday said his government was ready to talk to every person or group in Jammu and Kashmir if they abjured violence and assured that the grievances of the youth would be addressed.

“We are willing to talk to every person or group which abjures violence, within the framework of our constitution,” Manmohan Singh said at the Combined Commanders’ Conference here.

“The unrest in the state of Jammu and Kashmir over the last few weeks is a matter of concern. The youth of Kashmir are our citizens and their grievances have to be addressed,” the prime minister assured.

“We have to ensure better delivery of services and generate avenues for economic advancement for the people of that state.”

The prime minister’s remarks came a few hours before the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) meeting here to review the situation in Kashmir and discuss a peace package for the Valley.

The CCS will review whether the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), which gives the army substantial immunity during operations, can be lifted in some parts of the state.

Earlier in the day, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah met Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Home Minister P. Chidambaram and discussed the situation in the state that suffered a fresh spell of violence over the weekend.