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Onkar Singh in New Delhi
The chairman of the All-Parties Hurriyat Conference, Professor Abdul Gani Butt, said on Monday that he would be convening a meeting of the APHC executive committee to discuss the offer of talks made by Krishen Chandra Pant, deputy chairman of the Planning Commission and the government's negotiator.
"We will be meeting shortly to discuss the offer made by K C Pant. We will be discussing many other things, but this will be one of them," Butt told rediff.com on telephone from Srinagar.
Commenting on Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah's statement that if the Hurriyat did not accept the offer of talks, it would be isolated, Butt remarked, "He is free to say what he wants. I do not want to react to what he has to say. After all he does not represent the wishes and aspirations of the people of Jammu & Kashmir. The Hurriyat represents the sentiments of the people. He wants to safeguard his own interests and save his government."
But why not react positively and join the talks? "We are not running away from talks," Butt retorted. "We want to settle this issue once for all. We want that the Government of India should talk to the Hurriyat Conference and Pakistan and settle this issue. We want talks that are serious, purposeful and sincere. We do not want another eyewash."
Referring to the Hurriyat's insistence on going to Pakistan before holding talks with the Centre and the resultant inference that it just takes orders from Islamabad, Butt said: "If we hold talks with the Government of India first and then go, many will say we are carrying the Indian agenda to Pakistan. How do we come out of this situation?"
Butt said the Hurriyat just wanted the government to honour its commitment to allow its leaders to go to Pakistan and hold talks with the Pakistani leadership and the militant outfits. "We are ready for talks, but we do not want to enter talks that are being held in a manner which amounts to shouting in a fish market," he added.
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