Azad hopes Hurriyat will muster courage to join talks

Srinagar, Aug 24 (UNI) Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad has expressed the hope that the Hurriyat Conference will muster enough courage to join the ongoing dialogue process aimed at restoring peace and normalcy in the strife-torn state.

Mr Azad said this while interacting with a high-profile media delegation from Bangladesh, which is currently on a first ever visit to the Kashmir valley, here last evening.

The delegation comprised Editors and Executive Editors of prominent newspapers of Bangladesh.

In reply to a question, the Chief Minister said there was an open invitation to the Hurriyat leaders to join the negotiation table.

Mr Azad said he and his government had repeatedly announced that any group which believes in peace and disassociates itself from violence was welcome to join the dialogue process for restoration of normalcy in the troubled state.

''I hope the Hurriyat Conference will muster courage to join the dialogue process,'' he added.

Mr Azad informed the delegation the steps being taken to improve the situation in Jammu and Kashmir and also told the members that the thrust of his government was on creation of development infrastructure which had been destroyed in the past 17 years.

The members of the Bangladeshi media delegation were Bangladesh Observer Editor Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury, New Age Executive Editor Narul Kabir, Sangbad Editor Bazlur Rehman, Ajber Kagoj ex-Edior Kazi Nabil Ahmad and Purbabone ex-Editor Dr Ramizuddin Chowdhury.

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