The ruling circles in Kashmir are abuzz with speculation that Prime Minister Narendra Modi may offer talks to separatists during his forthcoming visit to the Valley, his first after the PDP-BJP government took over in March this year.
The first indication for the likely talks with separatists was given by Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed during a party meeting on Wednesday.
“Mufti said the PM’s public rally would be an important event like that of Atal Bihari Vajpayee and he was hopeful that the PM’s upcoming visit would open a new chapter in the state and the Agenda of the Alliance would get a push,” said a PDP leader who attended the party meeting.
The Agenda of the Alliance, the road map for the governance agreed by the two coalition partners, had promised to engage with separatist leaders. However, The BJP at the Centre had been ruling out any engagement with separatists.
The PDP circles hope that Modi will pick up the threads of the initiative taken by Vajpayee, when he extended a hand of friendship to Pakistan and dialogue with people of Jammu and Kashmir during a public rally in Srinagar in 2003.
“The PM’s visit has raised our hopes. He should resume the efforts initiated by Vajpayee. This is in the interest of the subcontinent and also J&K,” said a senior leader of the PDP. “We hope that the PM will also invite separatists for talks as there is no alternative to dialogue,” he added.
Modi is also expected to announce a financial package for the flood-hit during his visit to the state on November 7. Chief spokesman of the PDP Mehboob Beig said the party expected the Agenda of the Alliance to get a push during the PM’s visit. “But there is nothing official as yet,” Beig added.
