New Delhi: Ahead of Home Minister Rajnath Singh-led all-party delegation's visit to Kashmir Valley, the Left parties demanded immediate withdrawal of AFSPA and Army from civilian areas and a judicial probe into "excesses committed by armed forces against civilians". Addressing a joint press conference, General Secretary of CPI-M Sitaram Yechury and General Secretary of CPI Sudhakar Reddy also asked the government to immediately stop the use of pellet guns and give adequate compensation to all the families, who have lost their members in the violence.
Mr Yechury said there should not be a pre-condition for initiating the political dialogue and it must talk with all stakeholders, including the Hurriyat factions as "Without discussion, there cannot be a solution". The Left parties also favoured the starting of India and Pakistan dialogue to settle all long-standing disputes between both the countries.
The leaders said the need of the hour was to show solidarity to the people of Kashmir that the whole country was with them. Earlier in the day, Mr Singh chaired a meeting of political parties and discussed the agenda of their interaction with the stakeholders in the Valley. The delegation, comprising around 30 leaders from over 20 political parties, would interact with Jammu and Kashmir Governor NN Vohra and Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti before meeting the representatives of political parties, trade unions, members of civil society and other delegations there to discuss ways and means of restoring peace in the Valley. (UNI)