Better late than never, Mehbooba on ‘Hurriyat ready to talk’ assertion by Guv

Srinagar, Jun 24: Asserting that she is relieved that Hurriyat Conference (HC) has finally softened their stand and are ready to talk (with the Centre), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti on Monday said the underlying purpose of PDP-BJP alliance was to facilitate dialogue between Government of India (GoI) and all stakeholders.

“Better late than never,” Ms Mehbooba said, adding she tried her best to make it happen in her tenure as the Chief Minister of the state in PDP-BJP government.

“Dair aye durust aye. The underlying purpose of PDP-BJP alliance was to facilitate dialogue between GoI & all stakeholders. Tried my best to make it happen in my tenure as CM but relieved that Hurriyat has finally softened their stand,” Ms Mehbooba, who is the former chief minister of the state, wrote on micro-blogging site twitter.

Ms Mehbooba was reacting to Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik’s statement that it was an encouraging sign that Hurriyat Conference was ready for talks.

“Since I assumed governance in the state, the temperature has come down and the situation has improved. Hurriyat leaders, who once shut doors to Ram Vilas Paswan when he tried to reach out to them for dialogue, are now ready for talks. This is an encouraging sign,” Mr Malik said on Saturday while addressing a function organised by Doordarshan at S K International Conference Centre (SKICC) here.

Meanwhile, moderate Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Moulvi Omar Farooq said that if ‘meaningful’ talks were initiated, there will be a positive response.