Kashmiri separatists ask Centre to clarify on talks offer
Srinagar, May 29: The Kashmiri separatist leadership on Tuesday asked the Central government to clear the ambiguity in its offer of dialogue before the separatist leadership deliberates on joining these talks.
A meeting of the Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL), separatist conglomerate headed by Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umer Farooq and Muhammad Yasin Malik, was held at Geelani's uptown Hyderpora residence on Tuesday.
A statement issued by the JRL here said: "The JRL held a detailed meeting and deliberated on the current prevailing political situation in Jammu and Kashmir.
"The JRL while taking stock of the situation said the statements emanating regarding talks in the course of last few days from different people at the helm of affairs in New Delhi are unclear and ambiguous."
It pointed out that Home Minister Rajnath Singh said there should be a dialogue with both Kashmir and Pakistan but added that both parts of Kashmir belong to India while External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj put a rider and said no talks with Pakistan unless terror is stopped.
Bharatiya Janata Party President Amit Shah "gives a new spin by saying that the ceasefire is not for militants but for the people while state police chief issued a statement that the ceasefire has been announced so that the militants come back home".
"All this ambiguity leaves little room to consider the talk about talks seriously with a purpose or warrant a response. The JRL wants to put all this in perspective and once again reiterate our stand.
"Stakes for the people of Kashmir are very high. We have invested heavily in our struggle for right of self-determination and we cannot afford to be part of an ambiguous effort that has no clarity and direction," the statement said.
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BJP leader Ashoka slams Siddaramaiah for asking people to support son in Varuna segment
Bengaluru (PTI): Taking a dig at Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah for calling on the people of his Varuna assembly segment to support and nurture his son Yathindra, just as they did to him, senior BJP leader R Ashoka on Saturday asked whether this was a monarchy to announce a successor.
The Leader of the Opposition also termed it a "bad" development in state politics.
"Siddaramaiah gives speeches claiming that he is a socialist and not a casteist or a nepotist. Yesterday, he asked people to nurture his son politically. All these years, they nurtured him, now his son, and next he will come in six months with a similar request for his grandson. Is this monarchy to announce a successor," Ashoka asked.
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Speaking to reporters here, he said Siddaramaiah seems to have abandoned Ambedkar's principles.
"One has to win through ballots in politics....such appeals in politics will be an offence to the principles with which Ambedkar drafted our Constitution. It is surprising that Siddaramaiah has made such a statement. This is not good for state politics," he added.
Addressing a gathering at his Varuna constituency in Mysuru on Friday, Siddaramaiah said he will remain in politics till his "last breath" and will continue to serve the people as much as he can. He also called on the people of the segment to support and nurture his son and Congress MLC Yathindra politically, just as they supported him.
The opposition leader also took a dig at "dinner parties" within the Congress amid the ongoing power struggle between Siddaramaiah and his deputy D K Shivakumar's camps and speculation about a leadership change, stating that "this is a dinner party government."
"They are not worried about the difficulties faced by the state's people. They are only concerned with who will hold the chief minister post and maintain power. This is betrayal to the people of the state," he added.
Reacting to Ramanagara Congress MLA Iqbal Hussain criticising the state budget presented by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah last week, Ashoka claimed that a number of other ruling party legislators are also unhappy with the Budget, as it did not meet their expectations.
"Hussain has only expressed the opinion of other Congress MLAs. He has spoken the truth. I compliment him," he added.
Responding to a question, Ashoka urged the state government to take action against those indulging in hoarding and black marketing of LPG cylinders amid supply constraints caused by the West Asia conflict.
Pointing out that the supply issues have arisen due to conflict, he said, "Those trying to blame the Centre for the gas crisis should understand this. They should suggest alternatives to address the supply issue caused by the war."
Appealing to the people of the state to cooperate in the current situation, Ashoka hit out at CM Siddaramaiah for doing politics on the issue that has arisen due to the war in the Middle East.
