Ready to interact with Salahuddin, others: Azad

Srinagar, Apr 15: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad has said the government was ready to hold talks with Pakistan- based United Jehad Council (UJC) chairman Syed Salahuddin or other militants, provided they first drop the gun and shun violence.

''The government is ready to talk to Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin or others. But before any such interaction takes place, they (militants) have to drop the gun and abjure violence,'' Mr Azad told journalists here.

''Shun violence and drop the gun, and we are ready to talk to you,'' he asked the militant groups.

The Chief Minister also emphasised the significance of the third round-table conference on Kashmir, proposed to be held in New Delhi on April 24, and appealed to all the shades of opinion, including the Hurriyat Conference, to participate in the conclave.

''Take best advantage of the opportunity, the history has provided to you. Be part of the unified approach initiated to settle all issues amicably and jointly across the table,'' he added.

Mr Azad said the meet would discuss the recommendations of the working groups formed at the end of the second round-table conference here last year.

The Chief Minister said peace was imperative for development of Jammu and Kashmir as violence has inflicted upon unprecedented loss to human lives and public property in the state.

''Thousands have been killed, hundreds of women rendered widows while scores of children have become orphans since the eruption of militancy. We have to work together to rebuild the state and rehabilitate a large number of affected people besides carrying forward the development process with determination,'' he added.

UNI