Govt reaches out, sends leaders to meet Geelani

Srinagar, Sep 20: Indicating that the government was ready to walk the talk, a group of leaders, part of the all-party delegation, was sent to visit hardline Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani at his residence here on Monday, Sep 20.

Four leaders, including Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Sitaram Yechury and Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen leader Asaduddin Owaisi met Geelani, who has been put under house arrest.

Geelani had earlier refused to meet the all-party delegation, which had called all groups and parties for talks to resolve the Kashmir crisis.

Besides Geelani, moderate Hurriyat Conference Chief Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, who is also under house arrest, as well as JKLF leader Yasin Malik, snubbed the invitation for talks.

Similar groups of four members each are likely to meet Mirwaiz Umer Farooq and Yasin Malik.

PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti also refused to be present at the meeting in person and decided to send a 15-member PDP delegation instead.

The move by the government to reach out to the separatists come in line with the Centre's earlier claims that they are keen on holding dialogue.

OneIndia News