The government is ready to talk to different Kashmiri groups on the prevailing situation in the Valley as there is no harm “in meeting our own people”, home minister P. Chidambaram said on Friday.
“I have been meeting those from different shades of opinion. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has said the government is ready to talk to different groups. What is the harm in meeting our own people?” Mr Chidambaram asked after releasing the monthly progress report of his ministry for June.
Asked whether the writ of separatists was running in the Valley, Mr Chidambaram said he did not agree. “May be in Srinagar or some other parts, they may be able to mobilise support and call bandhs. According to the Jammu and Kashmir government, the situation is near normal,” Chidambaram said.
The state government had taken several steps, including a new surrender policy, providing compensation for those killed and injured and schemes for the creation of jobs, he added. The situation in the Kashmir Valley has been turbulent in the past month, with frequent protests by stone-pelting mobs and at least 17 civilian deaths during clashes with security personnel.