I have never been against talks with Government, says Yasin Malik

New Delhi, Jan.11 (ANI): Chief of Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) Yasin Malik on Monday said that he has never been and will never be against talks over Kashmir with the central Government but many people have their reservations back in Kashmir.

"People of (Jammu and) Kashmir have lot of reservation over the issue of initiating talks with the Central leaders. It is very important that talks begin, talks should begin, I have never been against talks and will never be against talks and I want that both India and Pakistan take up the issue on priority basis, the civil society, political leaders and also the media. I would request the media in both India and Pakistan to play a constructive role," said Yasin Malik, chief of Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF).

Malik said it while reacting after being heckled by some Kashmiri Pandit activists as he was about to address the India-Pakistan attending the three-day conference 'A Road Map towards Peace' at New Delhi on Monday (January 11).

Meanwhile, Malik had to face ruckus as he started delivering his speech at the podium. Some Kashmiri Hindu Pandits protested his speech by contending that he should not be allowed to speak and hurled abuses at him and described him as a 'rapist'.

They accused him of supporting anti-India activities, misguiding people and politicising sensational issues in the name of peace.

"The crime level in Kashmir has come to such an extent that the children now play with hand grenades and who is responsible for it? The man who calls himself the representative of Kashmir, this terrorist, I don't even want to mention his name and today he has been called to decide the future of Kashmir," said a Kashmiri Pandit objecting to Yasin Mailk's speech.

When the Hindu activists refused to give up, the police intervened and arrested one of the activists.

On being asked as to why the activists were evicted, one of the organisers, A Chinoy said, "From yesterday itself, all the delegates had been allowed to question, comment and answer in every session of the conference. The same thing would happen in this conference but it should happen in a disciplined manner. One should not call anybody a rapist or murderer."

Various Kashmiri leaders, political analysts and social activists are in the national capital where several intellectuals, dignitaries and leaders from both India and Pakistan attended a three-day conference. (ANI)