Kashmir unrest: In meeting with opposition, Modi bats for 'constitutional' solution

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday told Jammu and Kashmir opposition parties that a dialogue was "a must" for bringing about an end to the weeks-long unrest in the valley, but any solution to the problem has to be "within the Constitution" of India.

Opposition delegation from J&K during the meeting with the Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Pic/PTI

At a meeting with a delegation of opposition parties from the state, Modi expressed "deep concern and pain" over the violence in Kashmir and said loss of lives in more than five weeks of unrest distressed him.

"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," Modi said, according to an official statement. "There has to be a dialogue and we need to find a permanent and lasting solution to the problem within the framework of the Constitution."

Leaders of opposition parties, led by former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, urged the PM for a political initiative to deal with the situation in the state. Abdullah said the opposition leaders handed over a memorandum to the PM warning him against the "tried and tested formulations of dealing with the issue in Kashmir administratively rather than politically."