Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on Monday spoke to Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed about the controversial bill barring women married to non-locals from inheriting immovable properties in Jammu and Kashmir.

Addressing a gathering at his New Delhi residence on the occasion of International Women's Day, Vajpayee said the issue had sparked widespread protests.

He said he had requested the Mufti to ask assembly and legislative council members to find a way out instead of "fanning the issue further".

"I hope some way will be found to resolve it," he added.