The Hindu : National : Talks only within Constitutional framework: Minister

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Aug 11, 2004

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National

Talks only within Constitutional framework: Minister

By Shujaat Bukhari

SRINAGAR, AUG. 10. The Union Minister of State for Home, Sriprakash Jaiswal, has reiterated that talks with separatists would be held within the framework of the Constitution.

Mr. Jaiswal's statement comes after the Hurriyat Conference had on Monday rejected the Union Home Minister, Shivraj Patil's statement as "unrealistic." Mr. Patil had on Sunday said that the Centre would talk with the separatists with an open mind "but within the four walls of the Constitution."

Mr. Jaiswal, who is on a three-day visit to the State, said at a press conference: "We should not take the Hurriyat rejection as final. We do not know which group or who has rejected the statement that talks would be held within the framework of the Constitution." The delay in the ongoing dialogue with the moderate faction of the Hurriyat was because of "their own internal problems."

`Conditions unacceptable'

On Monday, a statement issued by the Hurriyat headquarters, said: "The conditional talks are both unacceptable as well as impracticable. The Hurriyat reiterates that dialogue is the only way out to the problem but it should be meaningful and without conditions. The Hurriyat had begun the talks with the Government of India on the same principles."

It said that after two rounds of talks with New Delhi, there was a consensus that the dialogue process would be pushed forward with "sincerity, seriousness and transparency" to find a "dignified and durable solution" to the Kashmir problem.

"A new government took over in New Delhi after the elections, creating a new situation. In his statement, the Indian Home Minister has made the dialogue process conditional by tying it to the four walls of the Constitution. This is unacceptable to the Hurriyat as it is not in conformity with the spirit of the talks. It shows no regard to the internationally-accepted tenets of conflict resolution," the statement said.

Talks with Pakistan

Mr. Jaiswal hoped that the ongoing talks with Islamabad would yield good results but "Pakistan's role in combating militancy is not satisfactory."

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