news details |
|
|
| Omar on same page with us,PC says on quiet diplomacy | | |
New Delhi, Dec 2: Home Minister P Chidambaram on Wednesday said Kashmiri groups had responded positively to the Centre's initiative of "quiet talks" and hoped a solution will emerge.
Replying to questions in the Rajya Sabha, he said the government would not shy away from talking to any organisation, some of which are demanding self-rule.
The home minister said there was "very positive response" and the government was willing to talk to "every shade of political opinion" in Jammu and Kashmir.
"These will be quiet talks, quiet diplomacy... far away from the glare of media," he said, adding he could not share details of the talks at this moment.
Noting that the response to the proposal was encouraging, he hoped a "solution will emerge".
Chidambaram said Jammu and Kashmir had a number of groups with a number of demands. And even though some groups had demanded right of self-determination or self-rule, "I do not think we should shy away from talking to any group."
Asked if Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah
too shared the Centre's perception of having "quiet talks", he said, "I think I know Omar Abdullah's position... we are on the same page."
Answering supplementaries, he said there would be no talks with Pakistan unless it brings to book the perpetrators of the Mumbai terror attacks.
"There are no talks with Pakistan," he said.
"The prime minister has already stated that unless Pakistan brings to book the preparatory of 26/11 Mumbai (terror) attacks and dismantles terrorist infrastructure (in that country), there is no scope for talks with Pakistan," Chidambaram said.
The home minister said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had in October stated that the "talks could be held with anyone who has any meaningful idea for promoting peace and development in Kashmir".
Singh was also willing to carry all sections of the people in resolving the political and economic problems of Jammu and Kashmir, Chidambaram said.
He said some groups have indicated an interest in holding talks and pointed out that there was tremendous improvement in security situation in the state during the past few months.
'The prime minister and I offered to talk to every shade of public opinion, including registered political groups and groups that fall under the (separatist) Hurriyat banner. There has been a very positive response to the government offer to hold talks. I believe a solution will emerge through the process of quiet talks,' the minister said.
'If I am asked to disclose details (of the talks) at this stage, it will defeat the purpose of quiet talks.'
Chidambaram denied a suggestion that inviting separatist groups for the talks without laying down conditions was tantamount to giving in to their demand for self-determination.
'A number of groups have a number of demands. These are citizens of Jammu and Kashmir, where there are many shades of public opinion. A lot of water has flowed down the bridge since 1947. We should not shy away from talking just because they put forward a demand,' the minister contended.
Leader of the Opposition Arun Jaitley asked whether he was aware of a statement by Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah that Chidambaram had held two rounds of discussions with the separatists and that the issue had now taken on an international connotation.
'I don't know the context in which the statement was made but I can assure the house that we (central and state governments) are on the same page,' the minister replied.
Asked whether China was now a party to the dispute, as had been demanded by some separatist groups, Chidambaram said: 'A spokesman for the Chinese government has made it clear that they have no interest in the matter.'
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
