M A I N   N E W S

Govt ready to talk to militants

ON BOARD SPECIAL AIRCRAFT, April 5 (PTI, UNI) — Home Minister L.K. Advani today expressed the government’s readiness to talk to militants in Kashmir on the issue of autonomy but within the framework of the Indian Constitution.

“The government is willing to hold talks with militants on every demand, legitimate or perverse, if they abandon the path of violence,” he told reporters on his way to Gujarat on a day-long tour.

Asked about the demand for the restoration of pre-1953 position in Jammu and Kashmir, he said the talks could cover even this aspect, the basic parameter being within the Indian Constitution.

Mr Advani cited the example of talks with organisations like the NSCN (IM) and Bodos and said though these parleys might not have yielded total peace, there had been “considerable peace”.

Describing the recent release of three Hurriyat leaders as an initiative towards peace and normalcy in Kashmir, Mr Advani said “it was not a casual action but an outcome of a joint decision by the Centre and the state government.”

Mr Advani favoured the formation of a grand alliance in West Bengal to drive out the Left-Front government and made it clear that his party was not averse to the Congress being part of the alliance.

He said the BJP was ready to be part of the grand alliance being explored by Trinamool Congress President Mamata Banerjee in consultation with Congress leaders.

Mr Advani commented that non-Congressism has become irrelevant in the country. He did not elaborate.

Expressing concern over the functioning style of the West Bengal Government, the Home Minister said it had become imperative that people got rid of the “undemocratic’’ Left- Front governance.

Mr Advani’s remarks come close on the heels of Ms Banerjee ruling out any possibility of parting company with the BJP saying “I am not going to disturb my alliance with the BJP. What we need in West Bengal is a political front to defeat the CPM’’.

AHMEDABAD: The National Democratic Alliance led by the BJP has succeeded in changing the country’s course from petty politics to serious developmental issues during the past three years, Mr Advani said.

Addressing a function here on Wednesday, he said competition among political parties had now moved from issues like temple construction to qualitative development and transparency in administration. “There was nothing wrong in the earlier political issues determining the discourse but the recent change is a good sign,’’ he said, hoping that it will lead the country towards development and prosperity.

NEW DELHI: The Hurriyat Conference on Wednesday said it was awaiting a formal offer for talks from the Centre before taking any decision on it.

“We will spell out our stand once we receive the offer from the Centre,” Hurriyat sources told PTI here, while reacting to the statement of Home Minister L.K. Advani that the government was ready for talks with Hurriyat and even militant outfits in Kashmir.

The Hurriyat leadership will consider the pros and cons of any offer before taking a decision whether or not to open talks with the Centre.

Earlier, the Hurriyat was only for holding tripartite talks involving India, Pakistan and representative of Kashmiris.

However, other breakaway groups of the Hurriyat, including one led by Shabir Ahmed Shah, has conveyed that it was not averse to direct talks with the central leadership on resolving the Kashmir issue.