Farooq says he’s willing to negotiate with separatists  

Member Parliament and National Conference President Dr Farooq Abdullah Monday said that he is ready to negotiate with separatists on behalf of the Union government. He said that he will initiate talks if the Union Government is ready to respect the views of the separatists.

“I will talk to them but the condition is that the centre should accept the outcomes of the talks,” Farooq told ‘Kashmir Vision’ in an exclusive chat at his Gupkar residence here.

Farooq said that he has always been asking to initiate the talks with all the stakeholders to resolve the vexed Kashmir issue.

“Without talks there is no solution to the Kashmir problem. I have always been asking that talks should be held with the separatists, students and other groups,” he said adding, “My home is burning and I have to find a solution for it.”

“Parliamentary delegations also visited Kashmir and pitched for the dialogue with all stakeholders but on ground nothing has happened so far,” Farooq added. 

 “Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vaijpayee had initiated a dialogue process over Kashmir issue and now we hope PM Modi will agree for the talks,” he added. 

The NC President said that development and tourism is not possible if there is no calm environment prevalent in the Valley.

“Our CM visits Mumbai and organizes events in Kashmir to promote tourism here but she must know it tourism needs a conducive environment,” Farooq said.       

“Atal Bihari Vaijpayee has well said we can change our friends but not our neighbours (Hum Dost Badal Sakte Hain Magar Kabhi Apne Padose Nahi),” Farooq said while emphasizing on need to initiate talks with the separatists at an earliest.

He also condemned the attacks on the nomadic people of the valley by the Gaw-Rakshaks (Self-styled cow vigilantes).  

Farooq won by a margin of 10, 700 votes in the recently held parliamentary polls for Srinagar constituency by defeating his nearest rival Nazir Ahmad Khan of the ruling PDP.       

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