Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday said that the Centre was deliberating the use of pellet guns. He appealed to the people of the Valley to shun violence as both the Jammu and Kashmir government and the Centre were committed to bring development in the state, particularly in the Valley. "A committee set up to look into alternatives to pellet guns will give its report soon. We feel the need to have an alternative. We have asked the forces to exercise maximum restraint and they are doing that," said Mr. Singh, who is on a two-day visit to the troubled Kashmir Valley. Declaring there is no future for India without Kashmir, Singh again invoked Atal Bihari Vajpayee's policy of 'Kashmiriyat, Insaniyat and Jamhooriyat' (Kashmir's pluralist ethos, humanity and democracy) again to signal that the NDA government was ready for dialogue with anyone.

 Singh said that an all-party delegation would visit violence-hit Kashmir soon. "Want to bring an all-party delegation to Kashmir. I have told CM Mehbooba Mufti to make arrangements for it," he said. Mr. Singh pointed out that he met more than 300 people besides the mainstream political parties.The Centre will set up a nodal agency for Kashmiris living outside the State. "In case of any problem, they can contact it. I have appealed to people to treat Kashmiris like their brethren and instill confidence among Kashmiri students." This is second visit of Singh in a month to the state.