PDP welcomes Ram Madhav's remarks on talks

Ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP) today welcomed BJP leader Ram Madhav's remarks that the Centre was ready for unconditional talks with all stakeholders, including separatists, in Kashmir and said the chances should not be squandered.
The party, which shares power with the BJP in Jammu and Kashmir, said Madhav's comments should evoke positive response from all those interested in ending the stalemate in the state.
PDP vice president Sartaj Madani said the "negative mindset" should end and the chances should not be squandered through "unwarranted obduracy."
The people of Jammu and Kashmir have beenthe worst sufferers of uncertainty and instability arising out of contentious issues and confrontation, he said here.

He said the fresh offer has a context and needs to be seen as a sincere and honest initiative aimed at gettingthe state out of a perpetuated crisis which has cost the people of Kashmir so dearly.
Madhav, national general secretary of the BJP and the party's pointsman on J&K, had said yesterday that the Centre was open for unconditional dialogue with all stakeholders, including separatists, to address problems of the state.

"Now is the time that reconciliatory gestures from New Delhi are not put to any doubt and all stakeholders extend a helping handin restoring the process of dialogue for sustainable peace and conflict resolution," Madani said.

"It was at the very outset that PDPBJP alliance committed itself to inclusive politics with a purpose and the agenda of alliance (AoA) (the common minimum programme between the coalition partners) explicitly acknowledges the need for political resolution and participatory diplomacy for a stable sub-continent believing in idea ofco-existence," he said.
Madani said Madhav's remarks are keeping in with the basic commitment and promises made to the state's people by Indian leadership.
The PDP leader said Prime Minister Narender Modi had made his government's intentions known on last Independence Day from ramparts of the Red Fort wherein hetalked about embracing the people of Kashmir.

"Madhavs observations are nothing, but furthering that agenda and we cannot afford to miss opportunities," he said.
The PDP vice president said his party has a track record of pursuing the policy of dialogue for resolution of all issues.
He said the party's founder and former chief minister Mufti Mohmmad Syed had changed the discourse in the sub- continent when it witnessed spell of initiativesfrom 2002 to 2005 for friendship between India and Pakistan and building of mutual trust at peoples level through various exchanges like opening of closed routes, mutual trade and ceasefire on borders.
"Once similar initiatives are given a chance, the mistrust built over the time will automatically fade away to expand the political space for positive gains.

"Political parties of all hues in the state owe it to suffering people that their woes end and they are not made to suffer for certain obsessions," Madani said.
"I appeal to all for striking a common ground on assurances made by the present dispensation in New Delhi. Let us notsquanderchances through unwarranted obduracy and work in cooperation with each other on issues of mutual concern," he said.
Madani said PDP on its part has an open mind and has been consistently pleading to respect the dissent voice.
"It was (chief minister) Mehbooba (Mufti) who took a bold initiative to call a dialogue between the political parties in the state with an obvious intention to make a newbeginning, revive the scuttled process of peace and also allow a common ground to grow on resolution of issues.

"But, unfortunately, the takers took the offer with cynicism and that was no forward movement. We need to come out of the negative mindset and strike a mutual chord for a movement forward," he said.
The PDP leader asked all stakeholders to come forward so that an intended meaningful exercise for resolution of all issues is allowed to take place.