Shabir too rejects round-table conference invitation

Srinagar, May 22 (UNI) Rejecting the invitation for second round of the round-table conference called by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh here on May 24-25, Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Freedom Party (DFP) today dismissed the conclave as an attempt to ''buy time.'' We have decided to stay away from the Conference, the DFP chief Shabir Ahmad Shah told UNI.

He said this decision was taken during the Executive Committee meeting of the party.

Party spokesman Mohammad Abdullah Tari said the leaders outrightly rejected the invitation received from the Centre.

They said the round-table conference called by the Centre was nothing but to buy time and mislead the world community.

''India was not sincere to resolve the Kashmir issue,'' the meeting was told.

However, the DFP was in favour of participating in meaningful and result-oriented talks.

Mr Shah alleged no measures had been taken by the Centre to make the atmosphere conducive for such a conference.

''The ground situation in Kashmir has not changed a bit as human rights violations continued,'' he said.

He said on one hand, the Centre was inviting separatists for the round-table conference and on the other it was opening new security force camps.

The defence authorities are occuping thousands of kanals of land in Kashmir to strengthen its base, he added.

UNI BAS AK ND1546