Srinagar:Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh on Monday said that he and his government was ready to talk to any separatist group that showed a willingness to give up violence and the use of guns. Addressing a public gathering on the
first day of his two-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir, Dr. Singh categorically said
that he was not ready to talk to any group that backs terror. He further said
wthat he was committed to ushering an atmosphere of peace and stability in Jammu
and Kashmir. During the course of his address, the Prime Minister said that he
would review the progress in the Round Table peace initiative and development
work being undertaken in the state. Sources said that he would address a convocation
of the Sher-e-Kashmir Agricultural University in Srinagar. Union Ministers Farooq
Abdullah, Ghulam Nabi Azad and Prithviraj Chavan have accompanied Dr.Singh. Tight
security arrangements greeted Dr. Singh when he arrived in Srinagar this afternoon.
Police pickets were erected at various places to combat threats from terror groups.
This is Dr. Singh''s second visit to Jammu and Kashmir after being reelected as
Prime Minister for a second consecutive term in the Congress-led United Progressive
Alliance (UPA) Government. He visited Srinagar in last October.
Reiterating that there were some elements and organizations only interested
in fomenting trouble in the state of Jammu and Kashmir, the Prime Minister praised the armed
forces, and particularly the Army, for defending the country's borders. Addressing a public
gathering at the start of his two-day visit to the Kashmir Valley, Dr. Singh backed the Army's
role, saying that it was doing a good job in defending the nation's frontiers. He said
the army has been forced to take action against elements who were determined to
create instability in the state, including infiltrators. He candidly admitted
that in the process of this aggressive response to terror, innocents got trapped.
He said that his government is committed to promoting peace in Jammu and Kashmir,
and ready to talk to any group that abjured violence.
