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Talks with Advani to progress as per expectations: Ansari
Srinagar, Mar 18: Hurriyat Conference chairman Maulana Mohammad Abbas Ansari on Thursday said he was hopeful that the second round of talks between the separatist amalgam and Deputy Prime Minister LK Advani on March 27 would `progress as per the expectations.`
Srinagar, Mar 18: Hurriyat Conference chairman Maulana Mohammad Abbas Ansari on Thursday said he was hopeful that the second round of talks between the separatist amalgam and Deputy Prime Minister LK Advani on March 27 would "progress as per the expectations."
"Although the final decision (on the talks with Advani) will be taken only after the joint session of our executive committee, general council and working committee on Saturday, inshaallah (god willing) talks will take place and progress as per the expectations," he told reporters in Srinagar.
Asked if there was any improvement in the human rights situation in the state, Ansari said Advani has held a series of meetings with top officials of the security agencies and "we are hopeful that things will improve in the days to come."
The Hurriyat Conference had threatened to pull out of the talks with the Centre following the back-to-back incidents of alleged human rights violations by security forces in Bandipora last month. On the agenda for the second round of talks with the Centre, Ansari said it would be decided at the joint session on Saturday. "We don't take decisions alone."
He said the decision of people's political front chairman Fazl Haq Qureshi to pull out from talks would not affect the talks. Qureshi was one of the five member Hurriyat delegation to hold talks with Advani in New Delhi on January 22 but pulled out following the Bandipora incident.
On the release of political prisoners, a major demand of Hurriyat in the first round of talks in January, Ansari said, "those released earlier were counter-insurgents and petty criminals, which we duly conveyed to the government. Shiekh Abdul Aziz was released later and we are hopeful others will be released as well."
Asked about the return of Kashmiri Pandits to the Valley, he said there were two groups in the community, one wanted creation of a separate homeland while the other wanted to return to their original homes.
"I think the creation of a separate homeland for Pandits would sour the relations between the Muslims and Hindus in the Valley," Ansari added. Bureau Report
Asked if there was any improvement in the human rights situation in the state, Ansari said Advani has held a series of meetings with top officials of the security agencies and "we are hopeful that things will improve in the days to come."
The Hurriyat Conference had threatened to pull out of the talks with the Centre following the back-to-back incidents of alleged human rights violations by security forces in Bandipora last month. On the agenda for the second round of talks with the Centre, Ansari said it would be decided at the joint session on Saturday. "We don't take decisions alone."
He said the decision of people's political front chairman Fazl Haq Qureshi to pull out from talks would not affect the talks. Qureshi was one of the five member Hurriyat delegation to hold talks with Advani in New Delhi on January 22 but pulled out following the Bandipora incident.
On the release of political prisoners, a major demand of Hurriyat in the first round of talks in January, Ansari said, "those released earlier were counter-insurgents and petty criminals, which we duly conveyed to the government. Shiekh Abdul Aziz was released later and we are hopeful others will be released as well."
Asked about the return of Kashmiri Pandits to the Valley, he said there were two groups in the community, one wanted creation of a separate homeland while the other wanted to return to their original homes.
"I think the creation of a separate homeland for Pandits would sour the relations between the Muslims and Hindus in the Valley," Ansari added. Bureau Report