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New Delhi:
Observing that it wanted to "win the hearts and minds" of the people
of Kashmir, the government today said it would resume dialogue and
asked the separatists, including hardline Hurriyat leader Syed Ali
Shah Geelani, to join it.
Home Minister P Chidambaram told the
Rajya Sabha that the Centre was keen on fulfilling its promises,
including on the controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA)
and reduction of security personnel in the state, depending on the
situation there.
He said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh would be receiving an
all-party delegation from Jammu and Kashmir, possibly next Monday,
and that leaders of parties in Parliament would also be called for a
meeting.
Chidambaram, who was responding to
clarifications sought on his statement on Kashmir unrest made on
Wednesday, said Pakistan appeared to have changed its strategy on
fomenting trouble in the valley as it seemed to be now relying on
"civilian unrest" for "dividends".
Noting that Jammu and Kashmir had acceded to India in "unique
circumstances", he said the state has a "unique problem" and
requires a "unique solution".
Chidambaram appealed to all sections
to put an end to the cycle of violence and said, "We have to put our
heads together to find a solution to the unique problem".
Contending that "it is important to win the hearts and minds of
people of Jammu and Kashmir", the Home Minister said, "We will
resume the political process. The answer to the problem lies only
through the political process, only through dialogue."
He said it was his intention to "do
everything possible to resume the quiet dialogue" which he undertook
with the moderate Hurriyat leaders before it got interrupted on
December 4, 2009 after an assassination bid on one them.
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