The Hindu : NC calls for Indo-Pak. talks

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Tuesday, Sep 03, 2002

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NC calls for Indo-Pak. talks

By Shujaat Bukhari

URI SEPT. 2. The National Conference today called for the restoration of dialogue between India and Pakistan "which only could usher Jammu and Kashmir into peace". The party decried the demand for trifurcation of the State.

Today's public meeting, attended by thousands of people in this border town, was a clear indication of their greater participation in the coming elections. The NC president and Chief Ministerial candidate, Omar Abdullah, surprised by the tumultuous reception accorded to him, said: "See, these are not people forced out of their homes by the Special Operations Group of the J&K police".

Chanting slogans to greet Mr. Abdullah and the State Education Minister, Mohammad Shafi, the party workers were unfazed by any threat from the militants. "We are for elections and will come out to vote as we want peace and development'', said an NC activist.

Both Mr. Abdullah and Mr. Shafi stressed that unless India and Pakistan joined hands to iron out their differences, peace was not possible. "You shall have to have a dialogue between India and Pakistan", Mr. Shafi told the gathering. He also took the BJP, the RSS and others to task for nurturing the demand of trifurcation and said "it is to put the issue of autonomy on the backburner".

Mr. Abdullah said the elected representatives of the State would have a role in the talks between India and Pakistan. On talks with separatists, he said: "We were never against the dialogue with them and did not stop them from talking to them''.

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