A day after Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik said that the Hurriyat Conference was ready for talks, two main political parties from the state- National Conference and People’s Democratic Party (PDP) welcomed the move. While PDP chief and former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti hailed the development saying – ‘better late than never’, NC leader Farooq Abdullah said that talks ‘should be held’ with Hurriyat. Taking to Twitter, Mufti said, “Dair aye durust aye (better late than never). The underlying purpose of PDP-BJP alliance was to facilitate dialogue between GoI & all stakeholders. Tried my best to make it happen in my tenure as CM but relieved that Hurriyat has finally softened their stand (sic).” “The Governor says Hurriyat has agreed to talks, then, talks should be held with them,” Abdullah said. Speaking at a function in Srinagar, Malik said that the situation in the Valley has undergone a transformation since he took over as the Governor in August. “The Hurriyat Conference was not willing to talk. Ram Vilas Paswan was standing at their door in 2016, but they were not ready to talk… Today, they are ready for talks and want to hold dialogue. There is a change in everyone,” Malik said. “I feel good that the temperature [of the situation[ has come down significantly since the day I arrived here,” he further added. In response, Hurriyat said that the party has been always open to talks with ‘both’ sides, meaning India and Pakistan. New Delhi has, however, severely reprimanded Pakistan’s High Commissioner for initiating talks with the separatists in Jammu and Kashmir. It may be noted that the Centre has tightened the noose around separatist organisations in Jammu and Kashmir following the Pulwama attack that resulted in martyrdom of 40 CRPF personnel on February 14.
