Hold dialogue with all stakeholders, Farooq urges govt

Srinagar, July 10

National Conference president Farooq Abdullah on Wednesday urged New Delhi to “seize the golden opportunity” and hold talks with all stakeholders in the state.

He said opening of channels of dialogue between the Centre and the state would lead to “successful outcomes”.

“On June 22, the state Governor had said that the Hurriyat was ready for talks. I believe the BJP should use its massive mandate to solve the protracted issue of Jammu and Kashmir,” he said. The Srinagar MP said there was “no other alternative to dialogue”.

“It is an apt time for the Centre to open all channels of dialogue with the Hurriyat. We have been hearing the catchwords of ‘Kashmiriyat, Jamhooriyat and Insaniyat’ for long now, however, nothing substantial has been done to materialise them,” he said.

He said the BJP-led Central government should “without much delay tread the path as shown by Vajpayee”. “The Centre should move in that direction and hold talks with all stakeholders in the state on the principles advocated by him. The measure of opening dialogue with all stakeholders will certainly act as a catalyst for restoring peace in the ill-fated state of ours,” he said.

He also resented the “frequent tirade” of BJP ministers against Article 370 and Article 35A and said the Prime Minister should “stop the untaught and unintelligent rants emanating from his party”.

“The matter of Article 35A is sub judice and it is, therefore, not appropriate for anybody to comment on it.” — TNS