Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday, at a meeting with a delegation led by former J-K chief minister Omar Abdullah, expressed ‘deep concern and pain’ over the prevailing situation in Kashmir. The delegation called on the Prime Minister to apprise him of the situation in the Kashmir valley. The delegation included CPI-M MLA Mohammed Yusuf Tarigami, state Congress president GA Mir, senior leaders of the National Conference and some Independent MLAs. The delegation submitted a memorandum to PM Modi seeking an immediate ban on the use of pellet guns in the state. They further requested the Prime Minister to initiate a dialogue with all stakeholders in the Valley immediately.

“Those who lost their lives during recent disturbances are part of us, our nation. Whether the lives lost are of our youth, security personnel or police, it distresses us,” a government statement quoted Modi as saying at the meeting. The Prime Minister's statement indicates that the government may be considering some political initiative on Kashmir where the over-five weeks long agitation has left some 68 people dead in clashes between pro-freedom protesters and security forces. "We need to find a permanent and lasting solution to the problem within the framework of the Constitution," the Prime Minister said. Modi emphasised on the need for all political parties to work together to find a solution to the problems of the state of Jammu and Kashmir, the sources said.