Focus on citizens,not separatists: BJP

The CPIM,on the other hand,welcomed the move. Senior party leader Sitaram Yechury said the government should have also addressed the issue of action against Army officers who have been found to have committed excesses.

Reiterating its opposition to dilution of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act,the BJP said there should be no compromise on security,adding that strong signals should be sent to the separatists that New Delhi would not compromise on sovereignty either. Instead of reaching out to the separatists,the government must reach out to the average citizens of the Valley and prevent their harassment, said the party.

The BJP firmly believes that the areas of Jammu and Ladakh have been discriminated against, it said in a statement.

Meanwhile,the Congress termed the Centres initiative as holistic and also expressed hope that the people would respond to it.