CALCUTTA: The railway minister George Fernandes, Friday expressed himself strongly in favor of holding a dialogue immediately with the militants in the Kashmir valley.
“My feeling is that the insurgents will come back to the table.
Speaking to newsmen in Calcutta in the east, Fernandes said his “optimism” was based on the “contracts” he had made with the militants in the Kashmir valley. “A. large number of the insurgents are ready to come to the mainstream of life,” he said.
Fernandes said it was to be ascertained as to why these youths had taken to guns. “These are all young people who were engaged in electoral battle in the Jammu and Kashmir in 1987. Many of these youths were polling agents or campaigners during the 1987 election. I met several of them and I understand their feelings.” “We should have a dialogue with them,” he said.
Article extracted from this publication >> June 29, 1990
