M A I N   N E W S

Centre’s assurance to Hurriyat on human rights violations
Tribune News Service

Deputy Prime Minister L. K. Advani shakes hands with Maulana Abbas Ansari (L), Chairman of the APHC,  during their meeting in New Delhi on Saturday. — Reuters

New Delhi, March 27
The second round of talks between Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani and the All-Party Hurriyat Conference (APHC) were held here today and both sides agreed to hold “substantive talks” in June by when the new government would be in place.

Mr Advani assured the Hurriyat leaders to look into the complaints of human rights violations in Jammu and Kashmir and told them that the review of political detenues’ cases would be speeded up.

A statement issued after the meeting said “the APHC leadership appreciated the Deputy Prime Minister for keeping up his commitment to hold the second meeting despite his deep involvement in the electoral process for the forthcoming general elections.”

“Recognising that the new government would be established in the latter half of May, it was agreed that discussions on substantive issues would commence at the next meeting to be held in June, 2004.”

It said the talks took place in a cordial atmosphere and in a free and frank manner. The statement said the progress on issues raised at the first meeting on January 22 was reviewed.

The Hurriyat delegation comprised its Chairman Maualana Abbas Ansari, Mr Abdul Ghani Bhatt, Mirwaiz Omar Farooq and Bilal Gani Lone. Mr Advani was accompanied by the Centre’s interlocutor for Kashmir, Mr N N Vora, Union Home Secretary Anil Baijal, OSD on Kashmir Affairs In PMO A S Dulat and Intelligence Bureau chief K.P. Singh.

Expressing happiness over the positive attitude of the Hurriyat leaders, Deputy Prime Minister told newspersons that he had assured the Hurriyat leaders to speed up the review of release of political detenues.

“It is an ongoing process and we assured them to speed it up,” Mr Advani said. “They were also informed that 69 detenues have been released after the first round of talks,” he said.

Mr Advani asserted that the improved relations between India and Pakistan would have an impact on the overall situation in Jammu and Kashmir and the January 6 joint statement issued in Islamabad was a very important step in normalising the relations between the two neighbours.

Asked whether any assurance was sought from the Hurriyat leaders not to disturb or boycott the coming polls, Mr Advani said “no assurances was called for but informally I have been getting some information.” He did not elaborate it further.

Striking a positive note, Mr Bhatt told newspersons after the meeting “We are moving ahead and not backwards in talks. The dialogue process is progressing in the positive direction. There is a change in thinking and attitude.