Date:08/12/2004 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2004/12/08/stories/2004120804871100.htm

National

`Willing to talk to groups that abjure violence'

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, DEC. 7. The Union Home Minister, Shivraj Patil, today informed the Lok Sabha that the Government was willing to talk to any group in Jammu and Kashmir and the northeast that abjured violence.

During Question Hour, he said the Government had adopted a multi-pronged policy to bring such groups back into the mainstream while ushering in development in the region. He expressed the Government's commitment to continue with the ongoing dialogue in Jammu and Kashmir.

To a question on talking to the Hurriyat Conference, he said: "f anyone is not willing to talk to us now, we will talk to them whenever it is convenient for them." In a Hurriyat-related question from the People's Democratic Party leader, Mehbooba Mufti, on whether the Hurriyat leaders would be allowed to go to Pakistan, he said the Government was not opposed to anyone travelling to Pakistan. "But, they should apply first, and we will consider it."