The Hindu : Mufti wants dialogue with all J&K groups

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Nov 06, 2002

Front Page

Front Page

Mufti wants dialogue with all J&K groups

By Luv Puri

JAMMU NOV. 5. The Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, today asked the Centre to start a dialogue with the State's elected representatives and those who did not participate in the elections as also the militants, provided they reciprocated the gesture.

Addressing a press conference after the ceremonial guard of honour here, the Chief Minister, flanked by all his Ministers, urged the Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, to revive the spirit of the Ramadan ceasefire which he announced two years ago. He hoped that the militants would respond positively this time.

(PTI quoted the Mufti as saying that the "Centre has announced such a ceasefire in the past as a good gesture and they can do it again." Asked whether he would ask the Centre to announce the ceasefire, he said: "I had not given it a thought.")

Stressing the need for initiating a dialogue process on the political front, he said: "We have been elected by the people and let there be a dialogue with us." But, at the same time, there should also be a dialogue with parties, such as the Hurriyat."

The Mufti said the anti-Pakistan rhetoric and war cries resorted to by the former Chief Minister, Farooq Abdullah, were no solution to the Kashmir issue. He said he had detailed talks with the Prime Minister and the Deputy Prime Minister and had been assured of all possible cooperation. Sometimes he felt scared whether he would able to meet the expectations of the people. People's faith in democracy had been restored by the ballot and this "glorious opportunity" should not be missed by any party for partisan interests.

On the issue of release of political prisoners, the Chief Minister said that even the previous regimes had released Hurriyat leaders. "We do not want to keep anyone unnecessarily in jail without any substantial charge as this will breed more alienation." Asked whether he would give an assurance that he would not be a stumbling block to the peace process with any group, he said: "No, not at all. On the other hand, he will try to be a facilitator of the process."

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Front Page

Stories in this Section

PM for ASEAN-India free trade area

Mufti wants dialogue with all J&K groups

Governor meets Advani

5 killed as IAF fighter crashes into residential area

Jayalalithaa calls for fixed agenda at CRA meetings

BJP rebels to finalise strategy today

1 dies as train rams another

Violence in Ahmedabad

Pro-Musharraf party wants House session put off