JAMMU, Oct 1: Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader in Jammu and Kashmir Mehbooba Mufti today asked the State Government to hold talks with all the parties, including the militants and the All-Party Hurriyat Conference (APHC), for restoration of peace and normalcy in Kashmir Valley.Mehbooba told mediapersons that the Government should take all the parties into confidence to fight militancy. She said the situation in the State had deteriorated since the installation of the National Conference (NC) Government last year as the ``ruling party leaders were not visiting the people to listen to their grievances''.The Congress leader emphasised the need of fighting militancy on the political front. But, at the same time, she opposed the withdrawal of troops from Kashmir Valley, saying that their deployment should be increased keeping in view the ground situation.Pointing out that a number of innocent civilians were being killed and many youths were picked up for interrogation by security forces on suspicion, she said, ``we are paying a heavy price for fighting militancy''. About allegations of human rights abuses against security forces, she said, ``We do not want the entire force to be put in the dock. But, the guilty must be punished.''Mehbooba also condemned shelling by Pakistani troops on innocent civilians in Kargil yesterday. Frequent incidents of unprovoked firing by Pakistan from across the border were creating problems for the people of the State, she added.The CLP leader also accused the State Government of having failed to meet the expectations of the people, saying it was yet to fulfill its promise of appointing 26,000 youth in various Government jobs.She said the Congress will play the role of an effective and constructive Opposition in the State. When asked about the presence of a Congress Legislator in the NC Ministry, she said the matter had been taken up with All India Congress Committee president Sitaram Kesri and other senior leaders.
