Adopt one policy on Hurriyat, Congress tells Centre

Accusing the Centre of changing its stance vis-a-vis the Hurriyat on a daily basis, the Congress on Monday said the government should adopt a single policy to deal with the conglomeration of Kashmir-centric parties.

"Should there be talks with the Hurriyat or not? When should they be put under house arrest? When should they be put under detention? When should talks with Pakistan be stalled because of them, and when it should not be stalled? All these things should be integrated into one policy," Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi said here.

"We believe any of these could be the right policy. But the problem with this government is it keeps changing its policies every day. It is very unfortunate. There should be one policy on dealing with the Hurriyat."

"we have seen how talks have been cancelled because of them, then allowed... then you have lunch with Pakistan. Such U-turns give a wrong message," Singhvi said.

Singhvi said that if a government abdicates its constitutional duties in a sensitive state like Jammu and Kashmir, it is but natural for the opposition leaders -- who may otherwise differ on many issues -- to get together and try their best, although they may be powerless beyond a point.

Regarding violence in Kashmir, Singhvi said: "We have condemned it and I repeat the condemnation -- but it raises a far more important question."

"we as a party have condemned all symbolic, direct or indirect or other activities which are intended to promote separatism."

"We have had the highest, largest number of homilies and sermons on nationalism from this government, both at the Centre and in the state, in the last 36 months. Never before has the state spiralled out of control with such happenings," the Congress leader said.

--IANS

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