Centre willing to talk to anyone having meaningful ideas for peace: Manmohan Singh
merisarkar news service
New Delhi, October 28, 2009
Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh on Wednesday expressed Centre's willingness to talk to anyone having meaningful ideas to promote peace in Jammu and Kashmir.
The offer assumes importance in view of the reports that centre will soon start dialogue with Hurriyat Conference led by Omar Farroq and like minded groups in the terror hit State to establish lasting peace.
Prime Minister said at a public meeting at Wanpooh in Kashmir Valley that the era of violence and terrorism is coming to an end. He recalled that five years ago his government had committed itself to having unconditional dialogue with whoever abjures violence.
He appealed to the youth to join in building new Kashmir and made a strong pitch for the reversal of the brain drain in Jammu and Kashmir to ensure the return of professionals to the State.
The Prime Minister also offered to resume dialogue with Pakistan provided it curbed activities of those engaged in terrorism in India. He said, "the government held discussions with different groups and implemented a number of initiatives. Recalling his peace offer in 2004."
He said that the most fruitful and productive discussions with Pakistan were held between 2004-07, when militancy and violence had begun to decline.
