'Let us not squander chances for K-issue resolution'

PDP seconds Madhav's 'unconditional talks' offer

SRINAGAR: Welcoming BJP's national general secretary and the party's pointsman on Jammu and Kashmir Ram Madhav that centre was ready for unconditional talks with all stakeholders, including separatists, in Kashmir, the ruling coalition partner People's Democratic Party on Friday said Madhav's comments should evoke positive response from all those interested in ending the stalemate in the state.
PDP vice president Sartaj Madani on Friday said the "negative mindset" should end and the chances should not be squandered through "unwarranted obduracy."
The people of Jammu and Kashmir have been the worst sufferers of uncertainty and instability arising out of contentious issues and confrontation, he said.
"The fresh offer has a context and needs to be seen as a sincere and honest initiative aimed at getting the state out of a perpetuated crisis which has cost the people of Kashmir so dearly," Madani said.
Madhav had said on Thursday that the Centre was open for unconditional dialogue with all stakeholders, including separatists, to address problems of the state.
"Now is the time that reconciliatory gestures from New Delhi are not put to any doubt and all stakeholders extend a helping hand in restoring the process of dialogue for sustainable peace and conflict resolution," Madani said.
"It was at the very outset that PDP BJP alliance committed itself to inclusive politics with a purpose and the agenda of alliance (AoA) (the common minimum programme between the coalition partners) explicitly acknowledges the need for political resolution and participatory diplomacy for a stable sub-continent believing in idea of co-existence," he said.
Madani said Madhav's remarks are keeping in with the basic commitment and promises made to the state's people by Indian leadership.
The PDP leader said Prime Minister Narender Modi had made his government's intentions known on last Independence Day from ramparts of the Red Fort wherein he talked about embracing the people of Kashmir.
"Madhav s observations are nothing, but furthering that agenda and we cannot afford to miss opportunities," he said.
The PDP vice president said his party has a track record of pursuing the policy of dialogue for resolution of all issues.
He said the party's founder and former chief minister Mufti Mohmmad Syed had changed the discourse in the sub- continent when it witnessed spell of initiatives from 2002 to 2005 for friendship between India and Pakistan and building of mutual trust at peoples level through various exchanges like opening of closed routes, mutual trade and ceasefire on borders.
"Once similar initiatives are given a chance, the mistrust built over the time will automatically fade away to expand the political space for positive gains.
"Political parties of all hues in the state owe it to suffering people that their woes end and they are not made to suffer for certain obsessions," Madani said.
"I appeal to all for striking a common ground on assurances made by the present dispensation in New Delhi. Let us not squander chances through unwarranted obduracy and work in cooperation with each other on issues of mutual concern," he said.
Madani said PDP on its part has an open mind and has been consistently pleading to respect the dissent voice.
"It was (chief minister) Mehbooba (Mufti) who took a bold initiative to call a dialogue between the political parties in the state with an obvious intention to make a new beginning, revive the scuttled process of peace and also allow a common ground to grow on resolution of issues.
"But, unfortunately, the takers took the offer with cynicism and that was no forward movement. We need to come out of the negative mindset and strike a mutual chord for a movement forward," he said.
The PDP leader asked all stakeholders to come forward so that an intended meaningful exercise for resolution of all issues is allowed to take place."