Jammu, June 21: Defence minister George Fernandes today said there was no proposal with the Centre to initiate a dialogue with the Hurriyat Conference. Commenting on reports about his remarks on the issue yesterday, Fernandes told reporters here that "there is no proposal with the central government to have dialogue with them (Hurriyat Conference)."
The minister said he was asked a barrage of questions by mediapersons in Srinagar which gave an impression that the Hurrriyat wants a dialogue with the Centre and it was in this context that "I told mediamen if they want a dialogue with the Centre, it can be considered." He said the Centre has taken a strong stand on Hurriyat Conference as it had not responded to "our earlier invitations for talks".
Bureau Report