NEW DELHI: An opposition delegation from Jammu and Kashmir led by former Chief Minister and National Conference chief Omar Abdullah submitted a memorandum to PM Modi seeking immediate ban on pellet guns in the state. The team further demanded the Prime Minister to initiate dialogue with all stakeholders in the Kashmir valley immediately. “A continued failure to address the unrest in Kashmir will further deepen the sense of alienation,” the delegation told PM Modi.

The delegation apprised the Prime Minister that the tried and tested formulations of dealing with the political issue in Kashmir administratively rather than politically has further exasperated the situation and “created an unprecedented sense of disaffection and disenchantment”, especially among the youth. “We are of the firm opinion that the Central Government should waste no further time in initiating a credible and meaningful political dialogue with all stakeholders to address the unrest in the state,” the memorandum said.

The delegation said, “continued failure to address the unrest in Kashmir will further deepen the sense of alienation” and hoped that the Prime Minister “will take immediate measures to address this grave situation.”

The delegation included CPI-M MLA Mohammed Yusuf Tarigami, state Congress President G A Mir, senior leaders of National Conference and some Independent MLAs.