(Picture: Twitter / @PIB_India)

Govt holds all-party meet on Jammu and Kashmir

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said his government is committed to finding a lasting solution to the unrest in Kashmir under the framework of the Constitution. He however made it clear that no solution could come at any cost to national integrity. He also took an aggressive tone on Pakistan, saying Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK) belongs to India and that the time had come to expose Islamabad ’s atrocities in Balochistan.PM Modi’s comments came at an all-party meeting convened to discuss the ongoing unrest in Kashmir, that erupted after the killing of terrorist Burhan Wani by security forces."There cannot be any compromise on national security. But we have to win the confidence of the people in Jammu and Kashmir… We are ready to address the grievances of all sections under the Constitution," PM Modi said at the all-party meeting, which lasted four hours. He also reiterated New Delhi's stand that Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK), as part of Jammu and Kashmir, belongs to India.PM Modi thanked parties from across the political spectrum for having spoken in one voice on the issue.He took a strong line on cross-border terrorism from Pakistan, terming it the root cause of turbulence in the Kashmir Valley. He raised a parallel front against Islamabad, saying the time had come to expose the atrocities committed "by our neighbouring nation" in Balochistan and the areas of Jammu and Kashmir that Pakistan illegally occupies.The all-party meet came at the end of the Budget Session of the Parliament. Both the Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha have unanimously passed resolutions calling on the people of Kashmir to help restore peace in the Kashmir Valley.The all-party meeting decided that talks should be held with all concerned parties in Kashmir, including separatists. The meeting also decided that there would be no visit by an all-party delegation yet to the troubled state.PM Modi’s reference to PoK was the second time his government has mentioned it in as many days. On Thursday, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh had told Lok Sabha that India’s willingness to discuss the Kashmir issue with Pakistan would be limited to PoK. Rajnath had categorically ruled out any discussion with Islamabad on Jammu and Kashmir.(With inputs from PTI)