Talk to us in Srinagar, Hurriyat tells Centre

‘‘We are ready for the talks. If the government is sincere, it is their responsibility to decide on the dates,’’ the Hurriyat chairman said. ‘‘If the talks are to be held in New Delhi, then the Centre will have to decide about it,’’ he added.

Even though he has ruled out a fresh invite, Patil has said the Centre is ready for talks at the appropriate time.

Amid heavy police and CRPF deployment, Hurriyat leaders today visited the burial ground of the 1931 martyrs. July 13 is celebrated as Martyrs’ Day by mainstream and separatist parties alike. But Hurriyat leaders decided to visit the graveyard a day earlier to avoid sharing a platform with mainstream politicians.

‘‘This (1931 killings) was the beginning of our freedom struggle,’’ Farooq said. ‘‘Our belief is contrary to those who say the objectives of the (1931) movement have been achieved. We believe the struggle still continues.’’

During NDA rule, the Hurriyat Conference held some rounds of talks with the then Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and then Home Minister L K Advani. The conglomerate says the framework for talks with the UPA Government will be the same.

‘‘The conditions (for the talks) will remain same,’’ Farooq said. ‘‘The dialogue will be focused to resolve the Kashmir issue; will be outside the framework of (Indian) Constitution and that the approach will be tripartite.’’

Flanked by senior leaders Abdul Gani Bhat and Maulana Abbas Ansari, the Hurriyat chief said the conglomerate will meet a team of Kashmiri Pandits next week. This is a significant development for it is the first time that migrant Kashmiris will share a table with Hurriyat leaders.

‘‘The Hurriyat, for the first time, is meeting a delegation of Kashmiri pandits on July 19. We have invited them here and this is an important development,’’ Farooq said.

‘‘They (Pandits) are a part of Kashmir. They are a part of our history, our existence and our culture. They should return to the Valley. The people of Kashmir always wanted them to return and live together happily,’’ he added.