Adil Lateef
Srinagar, Aug 19: Deputy Chief Minister, Dr Nirmal Singh, today slammed Pakistan for inviting separatists’ leaders to meet its National Security Advisor (NSA) Sartaj Aziz in New Delhi and said that the neighbouring country wants India to backtrack from talks. He, however, said that the India will “expose” Pakistan on table.
Talking to reporters after Puja of ‘Chhari Mubarak’ (holy mace) at Dashnami Akhada on the occasion of Naag Panchmi here in city centre, the Deputy CM said: “Pakistan always accuses us of running away from talks but this time we have initiated the talks. In Dubai, our Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the issues would be resolved only through dialogue. So we want talks with our neighbor and we want to live in peace,” he said. Singh said that former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee also conveyed the message of peace and dialogue during his tenure.
“But, whenever the talks are scheduled, the Pakistan resorts to these tactics (ceasefire violations and invites separatists)… The Pakistan, in reaction to these incidents, wants India to cancel the talks so that it gets a chance to tell the world that India doesn’t want peace and dialogue,” he said.
The Deputy CM said that the security forces are giving befitting reply to the ceasefire violations by Pakistan. “Besides this, the diplomatic move of talks should also continue,” he said. Dr Singh said that the centre has to take the final call over the talks with Pakistan. “Definitely, the centre takes all the things into consideration but at the end things would only happen through talks and we want dialogue should take place so that the hollowness of Pakistan is exposed,” he said.
The NSA level talks between India and Pakistan are scheduled to take place on August 23 in New Delhi. However, prior to talks, the Pakistan invited Kashmir separatists including chairmen of two Hurriyats and Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front.
Dr Singh said that the action against woman separatist leader and chairperson of Dukhtaran-e-Millat (DeM)Asiya Andrabi would be taken as per law. “An FIR has been lodged and the law will take its own course,” he said. Andrabi had waved Pakistan flag and sang its National Anthem on August 14″, he added.
He denied the reports that there has been surge in militant and separatist activities in state after the taking over of Bhartiya Janata Party and Peoples Democratic Party Government. He said that they, the separatists and militants, are desperate to increase their activities.
The Deputy CM expressed hope that the Coalition Government would function smoothly in the State and said that the things have been good so far.
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