New Delhi, Aug 30: Centre's interlocutor on Jammu and Kashmir N N Vohra today met Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani and discussed the progress of talks being held by him with various sections in the state. After the 40-minute meeting, Vohra refused to speak to reporters and merely said that he had come to submit a report on his deliberations with various groups in Ladakh region during his visit there recently.


Asked whether he would hold talks with Hurriyat Conference and other separatist organisations, he said Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Advani had already made things clear on the matter during their visit to the state.

Vajpayee and Advani had said he was ready to meet anybody, including separatist Hurriyat Conference.
The meeting was also attended by Union Home Secretary N Gopalaswamy and intelligence bureau director K P Singh.

Meanwhile, Minister of State for Home I D Swami said an "open invitation" had been extended to all groups in Jammu and Kashmir to hold talks with Vohra.
"Hurriyat and other such groups can also meet the Prime Minister. There is no rigidity on this score but if they talk to Vohra first, it will be beneficial for them as they can discuss their grievances and demands in detail," he said.


Swami also welcomed the "positive stand" taken by the Hurriyat after change of its leadership by stating that it would not insist on trilateral talks involving Pakistan.
Bureau Report