Doors open for talks if Hurriyat believes in Constitution: BJP

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, June 24

BJP national vice-president and in-charge J&K Avinash Rai Khanna today said they would talk to the Hurriyat leaders only if they believed in the country’s Constitution.

“I have said this before, am saying it today and will continue to say that whosoever believes in the country’s Constitution and wants to talk...our doors are open for them. If they (Hurriyat) don’t respect the Constitution, there is no point talking to them. We want peace and development...maintaining law and order is our priority,” Khanna told reporters on the sidelines of a BJP function here.

He made the comments when asked over the possibility of the New Delhi-Hurriyat talks. Pertinently, Governor Satya Pal Malik had on Saturday said the Hurriyat leaders were ready to talk to the Centre, triggering speculation of the beginning of a dialogue process with the separatists. Hurriyat leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq too had yesterday said that there would be a “positive response” from them in case “meaningful” talks were initiated by New Delhi.

On the party’s stand over the delimitation of the state Assembly seats, he said the BJP had not yet taken any decision in this regard. “No final decision on delimitation yet. We will inform once a decision is taken,” he said.

Khanna was here to take stock of the membership drive that begins on July 6.

“I have come here to review the membership drive. Like other parts of the country, there is a lot of enthusiasm here. The drive will continue till August after which we will go for party elections,” said Khanna.

Mehbooba welcomes Hurriyat stand 

• Peoples Democratic Party president Mehbooba Mufti on Monday said she was relieved that the Hurriyat had finally softened stand on talks with the Centre 

• Her statement came a day after moderate Hurriyat leader Mirwaiz Omar Farooq said separatists were always in favour of talks as means of resolution