SRINAGAR: Government of India’s dialogue offer is an “opportunity” for the separatists and they should engage themselves in the talks to save the future of the people, Deputy Chief Minister Kavinder Gupta said on Wednesday.
Talking to GNS, Gupta said that New Delhi has offered talks and was ready to hold them with every stakeholder in the state including the Hurriyat Conference.
“This is an opportunity for the separatist camp and they should not have lost it, particularly at this juncture of time. If they (separatists) really want peace in the region, they should talk and should engage themselves in the dialogue to save the future of the people,” Gupta said, a day before home minister Rajnath Singh’s visit to Valley.
To a question about the ambit of talks with Hurriyat Conference, the senior leader of the BJP said, “Let them first start the dialogue process and engage in it. Talks are the better way to resolve the issues.”
Asked whether the government would send the formal invitation to the Hurriyat camp for talk, Gupta said GoI-appointed interlocutor, Dineshwar Sharma, “is ready to reach to any separatist leader.”
Referring to Government of India’s announcement of the ceasefire during Ramazan, he said: “Now you have seen pro-Pakistani elements carrying out many grenade attacks on security installation which is clearly aimed to sabotage the talks.”
“While the ceasefire was announced for this sacred month, we want peace forever and not for a month or few more months and all stakeholders shall have to play their role,” Gupta said.
He said the ever since operations has been halted, no cordon-and-search operations has been launched in any part of the Valley. There have been few incidents where the security forces had to respond after coming under attack by the militants.
“There is complete honour with regard to the ceasefire from security forces but the militants carried out desperate attacks on security forces and they will respond whenever attacked.” (GNS)
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