Senior CPI(M) leader M.Y. Tarigami on Thursday suggested the NDA government at the Centre to consider dialogue with separatists in Jammu and Kashmir without laying down any precondition.
“My suggestion is to hold talks without any precondition. When the dialogue is held with an opponent or with those who do not agree with you, you have to make them agree but if you make the talks conditional, they will not get the desired results,” he said.
Mr. Tarigami, who is also Convenor of ‘Awami Mutahida Mahaz’ (Peoples United Front), was speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a convention organised by AMM, an amalgam of various mainstream political parties including state unit of CPI(M), to devise the strategy for the Assembly elections scheduled later this year.
He said BJP’s agenda is not hidden from anyone and he was “not much hopeful” of the outcome of its efforts to have a meaningful dialogue for the resolution of Kashmir issue.
“(Former Prime Minister) A.B. Vajpayee talked about the dialogue under the ambit of humanity and now they (BJP) talk about (having) dialogue within the Constitution. They have to decide whether they want the dialogue within humanity or the Constitution,” he said.
Appealing to political parties, including separatists, to join hands for the betterment of the people, Mr. Tarigami said, “We have to identify some areas of agreement and move forward in unison for the good of the people.”
On the strategy of the AMM for the upcoming elections in the state, he said, “We are meeting next week to decide the candidates. Let the elections take place and the results come out, then we will decide about alliance with any party,” he said.
Commenting on reports of Centre asking Congress-appointed Governors to submit their resignations, Mr. Tarigami said there was a need to redefine their role in the country.