Patil keeps Hurriyat guessing on Round III talks

Home Minister Shivraj Patil today said the ground was being prepared for the third round of talks with the Hurriyat Conference but would not say who would represent the Centre in the dialogue.

In the first two rounds, the Centre was represented by then deputy prime minister L.K. Advani. Patil said this time the Centre will be represented at a 8216;8216;level8217;8217; that is 8216;8216;helpful8217;8217; to the dialogue process. 8216;8216;The talks will be held at a level that is helpful for both sides,8217;8217; he said, referring to the Hurriyat8217;s demand that the Centre should now be represented by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and not the Home Minister.

Speaking on the sidelines of a conference on 8216;8216;United Nations and the New Threats: Rethinking Security8217;8217;, Patil said that while the initial round for preparing ground was held at a 8216;8216;particular level8217;8217;, the subsequent rounds of talks could be held at 8216;8216;any level.8217;8217; These details will be worked out, he added.