New Delhi: Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday said the government was ready to hold dialogue with the Hurriyat Conference leadership if the separatists come forward for talks. Mr Singh, however, made it clear that so far there has been no indication from the Hurriyat that it was ready for peace talks with the government.
"I have already said that we are ready for dialogue with all stakeholders in Kashmir. If Hurriyat comes forward for talks, we don't mind talking to them. Whoever wants to talk with us, we are ready for talks," he told a TV channel in New Delhi.
On whether there was any indication from the separatists leadership for peace dialogue with the government, Mr Singh said, "There has been no indication so far."
The government's special representative Dineshwar Sharma is holding talks with a cross section of people in Jammu and Kashmir, the Home Minister said.
Mr Singh's comments came days after the government had announced suspension of operations against terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir during the holy month of Ramzan that began on May 17.
Past attempts to initiate dialogue with the Hurriyat had failed after the separatists demanded declaration of Kashmir as "disputed" and involvement of Pakistan in the dialogue.
"I have already said that we are ready for dialogue with all stakeholders in Kashmir. If Hurriyat comes forward for talks, we don't mind talking to them. Whoever wants to talk with us, we are ready for talks," he told a TV channel in New Delhi.
On whether there was any indication from the separatists leadership for peace dialogue with the government, Mr Singh said, "There has been no indication so far."
Mr Singh's comments came days after the government had announced suspension of operations against terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir during the holy month of Ramzan that began on May 17.
Advertisement
COMMENTS
Advertisement
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh Released From AIIMS After Being Admitted Over Back Pain Defence Minister Rajnath Singh Admitted To Delhi AIIMS Due To Back Pain, Stable Now "Indian Army Committed To Welfare Of Agniveers," Says Rajnath Singh Bangladesh Imposes Curfew, Deploys Military As 105 Die In Protests "Jindal Group Executive Showed Porn, Groped Me On Flight": Woman To NDTV "Atmanirbharta" Cannot Be At Cost Of Nation's Defence: Air Force Vice Chief Conspiracy Theories Take Off After Global IT Crash UP Train Services Resume At Gonda Accident Site "Good Conversation": S Jaishankar Holds Phone Talks With Ukrainian Counterpart Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.