Government ready to talk to Kashmiri groups: Chidambaram

By Manoj Khar, Agence India Press,

New Delhi: The government is ready to talk to different Kashmiri groups on the prevailing situation in the Kashmir valley, as there is no harm “in meeting our own people”, Home Minister P. Chidambaram said on Friday.


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The Home Minister admitted that there has been an interruption in the process but said, he “has no reservation in talking to our own people.”

Asked whether the writ of separatists was running in the valley, Chidambaram said he did not agree. “May be in Srinagar or some other parts, they may be able to mobilize support and call strikes.”

“I have been meeting those from different shades of opinion. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has said the government is ready to talk to different groups. What is the harm in meeting our own people?” Chidambaram asked after releasing the monthly progress report of his ministry for June.

“According to the Jammu and Kashmir government, the situation is near normal,” Chidambaram said.

Chidambaram’s statement came on a day when there has been fresh violence in Srinagar. Curfew has been imposed in Jammu and Kashmir’s capital as 20 people were injured in clashes with security forces.

Home Minister P Chidambaram told that the country will overcome the Maoist problem in the next three years.

P Chidambaram also told that Centre had prepared two-pronged strategy of initiating development and police action in the Maoist affected areas.

Home Minister, addressing a meeting of the Parliamentary Consultative Committee for the Ministry of Home Affairs on Thursday, Jul 29, told that Maoist challenge would be met jointly by the central and state governments.

“The government was confident that the problem of left wing extremism would be overcome in the next three years,” said P Chidambaram.

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