Won’t talk to those who demand ‘Azaadi’: Centre

Won’t talk with separatists who demand ‘azaadi’: Centre to SC about dialogue on Kashmir unrest

The Centre told the Supreme Court today that it won’t hold talks on resolving the unrest in Kashmir with separatist leaders or those people who demand ‘azaadi’.
The Centre made this statement while the top court was hearing a petition filed by the Jammu and Kashmir Bar Association against the use of pellet guns.
The Association wants the Centre to hold talks with Hurriyat leaders. To that, the Centre told the court it will talk only to those persons who are legally permitted to hold talks on people’s behalf.
The apex court then asked the J&K Bar Association to submit to it the names of relevant people who can hold talks with the Centre. The SC further said it would direct the Centre to hold talks with relevant stakeholders in the state only if there is a first step from the people whose cause the Bar Association is espousing.
The Bar Association wants the armed forces and police to stop using pellet guns. Critics say pellets seriously injure people and cause them to go blind. Security forces have used and continue to use them in Kashmir during protests. Unrest and protests in the state began last year after the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist Burhan Wani.
The SC today said it would tell the armed forces and police in the state to suspend the use of pellet guns if it is assured stone-throwing protests will stop.
The court then scheduled May 9 as the date for the Bar Association to talk to stakeholders and to get back to it on the issues discussed today.