Shun arms, we will talk: Prime minister

A day after militants killed eight army soldiers, prime minister Manmohan Singh talked tough on Tuesday saying the nation is united against terror and will not allow militants to succeed in their evil designs.

“I pay my tributes to the soldiers who laid down their lives while fighting bravely against the militants to protect our motherland. I want to make it clear that our nation stands united against terror and militants will never ever succeed in their evil designs,” Singh said while addressing a rally after laying the foundation of 850 MW Ratle Hydro-electric Project at Kishtwar in Jammu division on Tuesday.

Later in the day, he expressed the government’s readiness to talk to anyone who shuns violence but made it clear that it would not succumb to terrorists efforts to destabilise the state. “I have always said that those who shun violence, we are ready to talk to them,” he said in a brief interaction with select journalists.

He was replying to a question whether the government was willing to consider holding talks with separatists Hurriyat Conference and others.

He also called upon people to participate in the elections for a better future. “Elections express the hopes and aspirations of the people. Therefore I request the people to regularly participate in these exercises so that we could together ensure better future to the youth of Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.

Kashmir observed a shutdown against the prime minister’s visit for which the call was given by both hardline and moderate factions of the Hurriyat.
— With agency inputs