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Representatives of the Jammu and Kashmir People's Democratic Party, J&K Awami League, Congress, Bharatiya Janata Party and National Conference, besides a delegation from the Border People's Front, met Vajpayee at Raj Bhavan soon after he had interacted with Governor G C Saxena and Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah about the situation in the state, official sources said.
The J&K Awami National Conference, headed by former chief minister G M Shah, and the state unit of the Communist Party of India-Marxist did not turn up for the meeting.
The JKANC said it did not attend the meeting because of the untimely death of All Party Hurriyat Conference leader Abdul Gani Lone.
The state secretary of the CPI-M, M Y Tarigami, said, "Our national leadership had already discussed the issues with the prime minister in detail."
The vice-president of the JKPDP, Mehbooba Mufti, said her party underlined the need for restoring the confidence of the people of the state in political institutions and democratic process.
In fact, it is not conceivable that any political party or players in the present political scene in Kashmir can place trust on mere assurances or promises to provide free and fair elections, she said.
Mehbooba, who was accompanied by the general secretary of the party, Tariq Hamid Karra, and two legislators, submitted a two-page memorandum to the prime minister.
"Your commitment to the nation that you would search for lasting solution to the Kashmir problem in its external and internal dimensions by not traversing solely the beaten track of the past is farsighted, bold and innovative," the memorandum said.
"We are of the firm opinion that if it is pursued sincerely and seriously it would lay strong foundation for peace and prosperity in the entire subcontinent," it said.
The only rational approach for finding a permanent solution to the Kashmir issue was one of dialogue and reconciliation coupled with healing touch and accommodation, the memorandum said.
PTI
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