A senior party leader said Chief Minister Mehbooba seemed not to be too firm in cracking down on such elements because the hub of their activities is in south Kashmir, considered a PDP stronghold, and maintained the Centre has conveyed to her its views regarding the same.
"Mehbooba has no choice but to go after them. The government has identified over 80 overground workers responsible for organising violent protests and playing a lead role in uniting stone pelters," he said.
Commenting on Home Minister Rajnath Singh's current visit to the Valley, he said his second visit is meant to give right signals to the civil society that the Centre is sincere in restoring peace.
Asked if there would be attempts by the Centre to engage with separatists, he said the government would not reach out to them but its doors are open to anyone who is willing to talk to it.
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He said the government is making efforts to bring an end to unrest, which has resulted in continuous 47th day of restrictions on the movement of people in the Valley, and added that there could be relaxation in curfew in the coming days.
The unrest was triggered following the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani on July 8 and as many as 65 people, including two policemen, have been killed and several thousands injured in clashes between protestors and security forces.
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