Forget pre-1953, PM puts the ball in Farooq’s court

Forget pre-1953, PM puts the ball in Farooq’s court
PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

CHENNAI, JULY 5: Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee has said it was for the National Conference to decide whether it wanted to remain with the NDA but there was no question of going back to pre-1953 status on the Kashmir issue.

``When Farooq Abdulla called me recently I explained to him the situatiion. I told him that if states required more financial powers that is a different matter and we can discuss it. But there is no going back to the pre-1953 position,'' he told newsmen at Chennai airport on Wednesday.

On the Sri Lankan issue, he said there might be some difference of opinion on the devolution package proposed by President Chandrika government, but it would not create any division. However, there was no question of India mediating in the Lankan issue.

On the difference of opinion being voiced by some NDA partners in Tamil Nadu on the Sri Lankan issue, Vajpayee said he had held detailed discussions with various leaders. ``All problems can be solved amicably through discussions,'' he said.

The prime minister later left for Madurai enroute to Kayatar in Tuticorin district.

Meanwhile, former chairman of Hurriyat Conference Mirwaiz Umer Farooq has said the Conference was ready for talks with the Centre provided the latter accepted them as a party to the Kashmir issue.

"Yes, of course we are willing to hold dialogue with the Centre...But it should be result-oriented and ensure ending of decade-old bloodshed in the state," Umer told newsmen in New Delhi.

The Mirwaiz was reacting to the statement made by Home Minister L K Advani on Tuesday that the government was willing to talk to anyone within the country and not with those operating from outside.

While emphasising that Hurriyat was for talks, Umer said no pre-conditions should be attached to these. "Everyone must come to the table with his own agenda," he said.

Stating that all parties concerned with the Kashmir issue -- India, Pakistan and people of Kashmir -- should be at the table for talks, Umer, also the religious head of Kashmir, said a "conducive atmosphere" should be created for talks.

He said the Centre should accept Kashmir as a core issue for improving relationship with Pakistan.

"It is high time that the Centre accepted the fact that a proper and an unconditional dialogue with us or the true representatives of Kashmiris was the need of hour," Umer said.