Srinagar, Oct 28 (IANS) Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Wednesday concluded his hectic daylong engagements in the Kashmir Valley, meeting various political delegations here.
Politicians of mainstream parties called on the Manmohan Singh at the Centaur Hotel on the edge of the Dal Lake.

Sources said the prime minister gave a patient audience to the various political opinions expressed by the visiting leaders and also exchanged views with them regarding political and developmental problems faced by Jammu and Kashmir.

Manmohan Singh was here to flag off a long-promised train service linking the south and north parts of the Kashmir Valley. He announced his government’s willingness to talk to Pakistan and Kashmiri separatists.

Among those who called on the prime minister was a delegation of the Congressmen led by union Health and Family Welfare Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad and Saifudin Soz, the president of the state party unit.

Congress president and United Progressive Alliance (UPA) chairperson Sonia Gandhi was also present when her party leaders met Manmohan Singh.

Leaders of the National Conference led by Rajya Sabha member Mohammed Shafi Uri also called on the prime minister.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) delegation was led by the party’s state president Ashok Khajuria while Mehbooba Mufti, the president of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), led her party’s delegation during the meeting with Manmohan Singh.

The Communist Party of India (CPI-M) delegation led by state secretary Yousuf Tarigami also met the prime minister.

State Governor N.N. Vohra was hosting a dinner in honour of the visiting dignitaries from Delhi at Raj Bhavan here.

The UPA chairperson, union ministers, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and his cabinet colleagues were attending the governor’s dinner.