NEW DELHI: The central government has no plans “as of now” to hold talks with separatist groups of Jammu and Kashmir, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said on Friday.
“There is no proposal to hold talks as of now,” was a blunt reply from Singh at a press conference here in response to a question whether the Centre would be holding talks with Kashmiri separatist groups as was done during the tenure of Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
The NDA-I had engaged with Hurriyat leaders.
The process was carried forward in UPA-I by the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh but it got scuttled after the Centre had asked Hurriyat Conference to bring a road-map on paper for finding a solution to Kashmir issue.
The ‘Agenda for Alliance’, which guides the PDP-BJP government of Jammu and Kashmir, had said that following the principle of earlier NDA government, the coalition government will facilitate and help initiate a sustained and meaningful dialogue with all internal stakeholders, which will include all political groups irrespective of their ideological views and predilections.
To another question, the Home Minister today asked people of the state not to fall prey to hollow slogans as the fate is with India only.
“Kashmiri people should not get misguided by pro-Pakistani elements and remember that their future is linked to India,” he asserted at the press conference held for highlighting the achievements of one year of Modi government.
Commenting on the hoisting of Pakistani flag at regular intervals in Kashmir, Singh said “We will not tolerate. No one will be allowed to misuse our soil.”
The sudden spurt in waving of Pakistani flag has even been viewed with concern by former state Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. “The flag was waved during my term as well but I am concerned about the frequency with which it is being done now,” Omar had said.
Art 370 important
Rajnath Singh said that all issues, including that of the Ram Mandir and Article 370 of the Constitution, were important to the central government.
The government will not go back on promises it made ahead of the general elections last year, he added.
On being asked if the government has put these issues on the back-burner, the minister replied in the negative.
“We are busy in development, all issues are important,” he said, adding that since the Ram Mandir issue was in court, everyone would have to wait for the court’s verdict or the people of the two communities could resolves the issue amicably.
Hurriyat Factions React: GoI Pursuing Militarily Solution
SRINAGAR: Reacting to the Union Home Ministers statement that Government of India has no plans for talks with the Kashmiri separatist leaders, both the factions of the Hurriyat Conference Friday said that such an approach will lead New Delhi nowhere.
Hurriyat Conference (M) chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq said that GoI has resolved to pursue a military solution to Kashmir problem and has given up its political approach. He said such tactics would not deter Hurriyat from striving for the Kashmir resolution and that the amalgam will continue with its efforts till the objective is achieved.
The recent statements coming from GoI about AFSPA revocation and dialogue with the separatist leaders indicate that India is trying to go for the military approach on Kashmir and deny people the basic rights at large, Mirwaiz said, adding that such tactics would not deter Hurriyat anymore.
Hurriyat Conference led by Syed Ali Geelani said the amalgam was never supporting talks with the GoI and never ever waited in queue to hold dialogue with New Delhi.
We have already rejected talks under Indian constitution, said Hurriyat (G) spokesman Ayaz Akbar.
Follow this link to join our WhatsApp group: Join Now
Be Part of Quality Journalism |
Quality journalism takes a lot of time, money and hard work to produce and despite all the hardships we still do it. Our reporters and editors are working overtime in Kashmir and beyond to cover what you care about, break big stories, and expose injustices that can change lives. Today more people are reading Kashmir Observer than ever, but only a handful are paying while advertising revenues are falling fast. |
ACT NOW |
MONTHLY | Rs 100 | |
YEARLY | Rs 1000 | |
LIFETIME | Rs 10000 | |