|
Kashmir : Dialogue with Hurriyat may resume soon |
 |
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad has said that the much awaited second round of talks between prime Minister Manmohan Singh and moderate leaders of the Hurriyat Conference may take place soon. In a newspaper interview, Azad said that he is ready for mid-term elections in the state in case the separatists agreed to participate in the polls. Spelling out his agenda for the next three years, the Chief Minister said that he would concentrate on good governance, restoration of normality and putting the state on the development path. At the same time, he said there would be no compromise on violence and dealing with the militants. He said the security forces have been asked to keep in mind local sensitivities while tackling militants.
Azad said his Government would facilitate the dialogue between the Centre and the separatists. “We will not come in the way of the dialogue and will even persuade other groups to participate.” “I have recently spoken to the Prime Minister and urged him to resume the dialogue with the Hurriyat and it will happen soon.”
At the same time, “they (Hurriyat) should join the elections and test their popularity.” If they are ready to take part in the elections now, we will not wait for the rest of the three-year term,” he said.
On the much-talked about self-rule, Azad said : “I cannot understand what they are talking about. To me self-rule means electing people of your choice, and as far as the elections - particularly those held in 2002 - are concerned, they were endorsed by the world community. We have not been elected by the people of Tamil Nadu or Kerala, but our own people in Jammu and Kashmir.”
Referring to Pakistan, he said, “They should understand their problem. We should tell them how to elect representatives in Pakistan and PoK. In Pakistan, they have not conducted fair elections in the last several years.”
India rejects OIC reference to Kashmir
India has rejected all references made to Jammu and Kashmir by the Organisation of Islamic Conference. External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Navtej Sarna said in New Delhi that the OIC has no locus standii on the matter. He said India completely rejects all such references to Jammu and Kashmir which is an integral part of the Indian Union.
|
