National

Want to walk alone on Srinagar streets: PM

By Our Special Correspondent

SRINAGAR APRIL 19. The Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, was at his witty best during his hour-long interaction with the mediapersons at the Srinagar airport today. He expressed his desire to walk on the Srinagar streets alone without any police protection and was poetic on many occasions.

``When I was coming to the airport (by road) I was thinking whether there will be a day when I can walk alone on these streets without these policemen. And that day has to come.'' He started his press conference with these words. He was comfortable answering questions and saw that the questioners were satisfied. He expressed his gratitude to all the print and electronic mediapersons for the coverage of his visit.

He sent the audience into peals of laughter on many occasions. When a reporter with the surname of Vajpayee introduced himself, the Prime Minister shot back ``ek hee Vajpayee kaafi tha'' (one Vajpayee is enough). To a question on Pakistan's response, he said that ``when the snow starts melting all other issues should melt''.

When lensmen started clamouring for photo opportunities, ``Sir here'', he said ``pehley rail se to utar jayen'' (Let me alight from the train first). He was at that time unveiling the foundation stone of the railway bridge.

But his best comment was reserved for the last question about the Hurriyat demand for talks on the lines of those held with the Nagas. Mr. Vajpayee asked: ``Why they (Hurriyat) want to come to the level of Nagas. Their level is high.'' The dispersing journalists were heard saying ``Vajpayee at his best'' in Kashmir.

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