Chairman of Hurriyat Conference (moderate) Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on Friday rejected “quiet diplomacy” as “tactics” to create confusion among Kashmir people. He asked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to announce “meaningful” talks with Kashmiri people and Pakistan during his proposed visit to Srinagar.
Addressing a rally organised to commemorate his father Moulvi Farooq's death anniversary, the Mirwaiz said it was time to initiate purposeful dialogue with people. “Prime Minister of India is visiting the valley next month. I urge him to visit here not for economic packages, subsidies, loans, inauguration of railway lines. During his visit he should declare a programme for meaningful dialogue with people of Kashmir and the government of Pakistan for resolution of long-pending Kashmir issue,” he said. The Mirwaiz criticised the Centre for “sitting” over the issue of Kashmir and said that it must be the “central issue” in any dialogue between India and Pakistan. “India and Pakistan are starting the dialogue process again. I welcome the statement of Pakistani Prime Minister in which he supported the inclusion of Kashmiri people for an amicable solution of this issue,” he said.
Shops, schools, private offices including banks were closed and public transport remained off the roads in response on the strike called Hurriyat Conference (M) to mark the death anniversaries of Mirwaiz Muhammad Farooq and Abdul Gani Lone, assassinated on this day in 1990 and 2002.
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