Mufti welcomes talks

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, MAY 31. The president of the J&K People's Democratic Party (PDP), Mufti Mohammed Sayeed, today welcomed the decision of Prime Minister, Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee, to invite the Pakistan Chief Executive, Gen. Pervez Musharraf, and said the `bold and courageous' step had raised hopes among the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

Apart from Kashmir there were many issues like trade and visa relaxation that needed to be attended to by both India and Pakistan, he said.

Addressing a press conference here, he regretted the calling off of the unilateral ceasefire in the State and saw it as a `setback' to the peace initiative. The ceasefire had sent a good message across the State, he said and reiterated that the administration had `sabotaged' it.

The PDP, he said, always stood for talks with the people of the State and noted with satisfaction that the Centre's special emissary, Mr. K.C. Pant, was meeting a cross section of the people during his current visit.

However, he said, the Government should have followed up the Ramzan initiative by initiating a dialogue with the people immediately. The Mufti was of the opinion that the Hurriyat would eventually have to talk to the Government's special emissary.

Demanding an economic package to prevent the youth from being drawn towards militancy, he said if the Centre did not ensure `free and fair' assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir, the situation could take a turn for the worse.

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Section  : National
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