Hardline Hurriyat Conference leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani today said the all-party meet in New Delhi is unlikely to help improve the situation in the Kashmir Valley as Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s speech did not touch on the core issue of Kashmir.
“The Prime Minister’s speech has not focussed on the core issue of Kashmir. There was no mention of the bigger problem. I can’t see anything positive coming out of this meeting,” Mr Geelani, who is spearheading the ongoing agitation in the valley, told PTI here.
On Mr Singh’s remark that some protests were instigated, Mr Geelani said, “The Tangmarg incident has clearly shown as to who is behind the acts of violence and arson”.
Police has registered a case on the charges of attempt to murder, arson and rioting against a ruling National Conference worker in Tangmarg, who had allegedly incited the mob which went on rampage on Monday.
“Our protest programmes are peaceful. We are the sufferers of the violence and desire most for peace but it should be honourable and dignified,” he said.
Mr Geelani said the peaceful struggle for achieving the goals in Kashmir will continue as the Centre has failed to respond to the conditions he had put forth for starting a dialogue for resolution of the Kashmir issue.
In New Delhi, the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said the government was willing to talk to anybody or any group but asserted that it could not happen till the end of violence, some of which is “orchestrated by certain groups“.
Addressing an all-party meeting on the volatile situation in Jammu and Kashmir, Singh underlined that dialogue and discussion is the “only path for lasting peace and prosperity” in the state and those having grievances against the government “have to talk to the administration”.
