NEW DELHI Home minister UK Advani has said any possible talks with Hurriyat Conference leaders in the coming months could be held only within the framework of the constitution.
“It is likely, I am optimistic,” Advani told Star News when asked whether a full-fledged dialogue was possible between the government and the released Hurriyat leaders.
To a question whether the autonomy report presented by the Jammu and Kashmir government would be considered during the talks, he said the report would be on the negotiating table.
Asked about the parameters of the proposed talks, the home minister declined to divulge details saying any elaboration would amount to narrowing down the scope of the exercise. Asserting that any talks had to be within the purview of the constitution, Advani said this was the one and only condition and I am not putting any other condition.
In his first reaction to reports of a move by the centre to hold talks with the Hurriyat leaders, he said whatever inputs we have had are from people who are in touch with them.
Maintaining that the situation in Jammu and Kashmir was gradually returning to normal, Advani said the best index of normalcy was the improvement in tourist traffic this season
ONS reports from Srinagar: Reacting to Advani’s statement, the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) chairman, Syed All Shah Geelani, accused the centre of trying to create confusion between it and the people of Kashmir by resorting to Goebbels’ tactias.
On Advani’s remarks that the talks ‘could be held only within the framework of the constitution’, Geelani said the APHC had ‘outrightly rejected’ the idea and made the unanimous and categoric decision known the time and again. “We are fighting the occupation forces.
Let them ask the people, how can it be possible for the APHC to accept the Indian constitution, he asked.
He pooh-poohed The home minister’s remark that this (talks within the purview of the constitution) was the one and only condition ‘and said this was a great obstacle in resolving the dispute. He said the condition was not in any way a acceptable to APHC.
On the home minister’s remark that the autonomy report of the Jammu and Kashmir government would be on the negotiating table’, Geelani said, “The report is not acceptable to us. We want the right of self-determination”.
(Kashmir Observer, June 01, 2000)
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