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This is an archive article published on May 24, 2002

I’ll talk to Hurriyat if they keep Pak out: PM

Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee repeated yesterday’s hardtalk saying that India was preparing for a ‘‘decisive victory ag...

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Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee repeated yesterday’s hardtalk saying that India was preparing for a ‘‘decisive victory against the enemy’’ but later struck a softer tone saying he hoped for peace.

At a press conference here today, after he chaired the unified command meeting, Vajpayee announced a Rs 6,165-crore package that included more money for migrants, incentives for police, funds for cottage industry, fresh jobs, new roads and promise of a rail network in a state.

Although he made no mention of any political package or a roadmap for a process leading towards a Kashmir breakthrough, he hinted at opening a door when he said that the Government has always been ready to talk to the Hurriyat. ‘‘I am inviting them for talks,’’ he said, adding the rider that is New Delhi’s stated position: Pakistan can’t be a part of this dialogue. ‘‘Isi liye musibat hai (that’s why the trouble). But there is no question of involving Pakistan,’’ he said.

When asked whether he had met those who disagreed with the Centre on the Kashmir issue, he said: ‘‘I told you that the process of dialogue will continue. Those groups who could not talk to me can come to Delhi to meet me. I will also come to Jammu and Kashmir again,’’ he said.

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Regarding invitations to the Hurriyat leaders, Vajpayee said that all parties, except illegal ones, were invited.

Vajpayee reiterated the Centre’s resolve to hold free and fair elections. ‘‘The coming elections are going to be a new beginning in the life of Jammu and Kashmir,’’ he said and asked the people to cast their vote with a free will so that the government they elect will take the state forward in development and prosperity.

In his opening address to the press conference, he stressed on the country’s resolve to fight the Pak-sponsored campaign of terrorism and proxy war saying: ‘‘India has accepted the challenge thrown by our neighbour and we are preparing ourselves for a decisive victory against the enemy.’’

When asked about war clouds he had referred to in the begining of his J&K tour, Vajpayee avoided a direct reply: ‘‘Mujhe aasmaan saaf nazar aa raha hai, lekin kabhi kabhi bijli saaf aasman se bhi girti hai. Hame ummeed hai bijli nahi giregi.’’ (I see a clear sky but at times lightning strikes even when the sky is clear, we are hopeful that lightning won’t strike.’’

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When a reporter asked to know whether he still stuck to his Kupwara speech, Vajpayee responded: ‘‘Aage aage dekhiye hota hai kya.’’ (Wait and watch how the situation unfolds.) Another reporter asked how close was a war with Pakistan. ‘‘I have nothing more to add. A proxy war is already going on for the last 12 years and we have been fighting cross-border terrorism,’’ he said. Vajpayee, however, termed the situation at the borders ‘‘serious andchallenging.’’

Vajpayee said that he was disappointed by the statement made by Pak President late last night. Musharraf had suggested that Pakistan wouldn’t allow any terrorism from PoK as well. ‘He (Musharraf) repeated what he had said on Jan 12 when promises were made but never implemented. Just a declaration is not important but implementation of it,’’ he said.

Asked about the Centre’s rejection of the autonomy resolution passed by the J&K Assembly, Vajpayee said that ‘‘the autonomy issue was with Advaniji.’’ He added that the resolution was not rejected without thought. ‘‘We wanted to hold talks with Farooq Abdullah, when he raised the issue. We had asked him as to what was the deficiency that prevents him from giving relief to the people. If any article of the Constitution comes in the way, we will remove it,’’ he said.

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