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Lok Sabha members express concern over unrest in Kashmir

Home minister P Chidambaram said that discussions would be held with chief minister Omar Abdullah who has arrived here.

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The unrest in Kashmir today found its echo in the Lok Sabha with members expressing concern, prompting the government to acknowledge that the situation had taken a "serious turn".

Concern was voiced by members, including BJP parliamentary party chairman L K Advani, JD(U) chief Sharad Yadav, SP supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav and CPI(M) leader Basudeb Acharia, who impressed upon the government to act fast to address the situation.

Responding, home minister P Chidambaram said that the government shares the concerns of the members and added that discussions would be held with chief minister Omar Abdullah who has arrived here.

"Jammu and Kashmir is a very sensitive state and problems are well known. Over the last few days, situation (in Kashmir) has taken a serious turn. After July 19, there was a lull. But after July 30, the situation has again taken a serious turn," he said.

He said Omar Abdullah has arrived in Delhi and "we intend to talk to him today" after which a statement would be made in the House.

Chidambaram said he had talked to the chief minister several times last week.

Earlier, Advani raised the issue in the House during the zero hour and wanted the government to state what it was doing in view of the deteriorating situation in the Valley.

"Violence and anarchy are just the symptoms. What are reasons for this? What is the government doing? The home minister should tell us," Advani said while citing the latest bout of unrest and bloodshed in Kashmir.

Joining Advani, NDA convenor Sharad Yadav wanted the government to take the opposition parties into confidence on the situation.

"The entire country is worried over the situation in the valley," Yadav said, adding there were no differences between the government and opposition on the issue.

He said he had already met prime minister Manmohan Singh on the issue.

Acharia described the situation in Kashmir as "very grave" and said the cause was "complete alienation" of the people of the Valley.

He made a strong plea for initiation of dialogue by the Centre as well as the state, arguing that the people of the Valley had "lost faith".

The CPI(M) leader said autonomy to Jammu and Kashmir had been eroded recently and it needed to be restored.

He noted that the chief minister had called an all-party meeting and promised to take all steps to address the situation but "no steps" have been taken to contain the problem.

"The centre should take steps to address the situation," Acharia said and suggested sending a parliamentary delegation to Kashmir to find out and assuage the feelings of the people.

Mulayam Singh Yadav said no central government in recent times had been able to generate faith among the people of the state.

"The only solution is that a consensus view should be evolved so as to earn the faith of the people of the state," the SP leader said.

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