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Delhi will not beg Hurriyat for talks: Farooq

SYED YASIR. Dated: 9/9/2012 12:59:11 AM

SRINAGAR, Sep 8: Stating that Jammu and Kashmir will remain part of India, senior National Conference (NC) and New and Renewable energy minister Dr Farooq Abdullah said that New Delhi will not beg Hurriyat leadership for talks and that the separatists should initiate the process on their own.
Dr Abdullah told reporters after paying homage to his father and National Conference founder Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah on his 30th death anniversary at Naseem Bagh graveyard here.
He said Jammu and Kashmir will remain part of India and that is not going to change. “Let us make it very clear to everyone. Jammu and Kashmir is a part of India and it will remain its part,” Dr Abdullah said.
The National Conference leader stated that New Delhi will not beg the separatists for talks and they (separatists) have to start the process on their own. He said, "They (separatists) should initiate the process on their own if they want to resolve the problems of the people," he said.
Responding to a question if the Centre would initiate talks with separatists since Hurriyat Conference (M) Chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq expressed willingness to enter a dialogue process.
“It is a good development that Moulvi Umar Farooq said Hurriyat was ready for talks,” the National Conference leader said.
Mirwaiz had expressed willingness to talk, however, he said that New Delhi should accept Hurriyat's four points - withdrawal of troops from the Valley, repeal of laws like AFSPA and PSA, release of political prisoners and end to alleged human rights violations - for creating conducive atmosphere for the talks.
Dr Abdullah also said Kashmir issue has been there for many years and it cannot be resolved overnight. "Resolution of Kashmir issue will take time. It will take years and years together to resolve it,” he said.
On the Indo-Pakistan foreign ministers' talks between SM Krishna and Hina Rabani Khar in Islamabad, the new and renewable energy minister said that it will take many years to solve Kashmir issue. “Do not jump on it. It will take many years to resolve it. ”
Dr Abdullah however, expressed the hope that political leadership of both the countries will initiate confidence building measures, including liberalization of visa regime and starting banking and communication facilities for cross-LoC trade.
Earlier, floral tributes were paid to late Sheikh Mohammed Abdullah, by chief minister Omar Abdullah, his cabinet colleagues and National Conference leaders and workers.