Qureshi refuses to attend Srinagar round-table

Srinagar, May 23: In yet another setback to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's bold initiative to seek views from all shades of opinion at a common forum, Democratic Liberation party (DLP) Chief Hashim Qureshi today refused to attend the second round-table conference here on May 24-25.

Mr Qureshi, who was the only separatist leader to attend the first round-table in New Delhi on February 25, said he had rejected the invitation to participate in Srinagar conference as the Centre had failed to bring about any changes in the ground situation in Jammu and Kashmir.

''There is no end to the custodial killings, human rights violations and atrocities by the security forces,'' he told a news conference here.

Incidentally, Mr Qureshi had received the letter of invitation on May 20, just a few days ahead of the second round-table conference.

UNI

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