Government should act on its words on Kashmir, says Congress

New Delhi, Aug 25: Reiterating the need for a dialogue to ensure peace in Kashmir, the Congress on Thursday said the government should take action to implement what was said by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh.

"We need to move beyond the rhetoric. Action on the ground is needed. A political dialogue with all stakeholders is suggested," Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala told reporters here.

"The need of the hour is a genuine public outreach. There is much at stake and risk in Jammu and Kashmir."

He said that the government seems to have mellowed its "hawkish" stance, going by the words and assurances of the Home Minister in the valley.

The Congress leader said if the Home Minister is willing to act on his words and reach out to and heal the wounds of the Kashmiri people, it will be welcomed by every Indian.

The Congress stand came after Rajnath Singh, on a two-day visit to Kashmir, said in Srinagar on Thursday that an all-party delegation will arrive in the state soon to hold talks on how to resolve the ongoing unrest in the valley.

At least 69 people have been killed and thousands injured in the violence that has crippled normal life in the Kashmir Valley for the past 47 days. The unrest was triggered by the July 8 killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani by security forces.

Surjewala took a jibe at the leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the two parties which form the ruling alliance in Jammu and Kashmir.

"It's time the BJP-PDP combine speak in one language. They have sent out conflicting messages, which has aggravated the problem (in the Valley)."

"We need to realise that while the development in Jammu and Kashmir is an important paradigm, we need to work towards a larger set of solutions," he added.

IANS