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Major shift in BJP's policy towards Kashmir 'Hurriyat leaders can meet anyone; even Pak' 5/2/2016 12:22:43 AM Ishtiyaq Ahmad Early Times Report Srinagar, May 1: In an evident shift in ruling BJP's policy towards the Kashmir, Government of India has said leaders representing All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) are just like any other Indian citizen and can meet any leader worldwide. The BJP before coming to the power was taking on the Congress party, PDP and the NC for being soft towards Kashmiri separatists. The BJP had even termed the separatists "anti-nationals" and had been demanding that they should be put behind bars. However, the BJP led Central government has said that Hurriyat can meet any representative from any one in India, be it Pakistan. "But if the Pakistanis decide to meet with them, the government (of India) would object on the grounds that such meetings constitute interference in India's internal affairs," a media report said on Sunday. The shift in BJP's policy towards Kashmiri separatists is seen after aligning with the PDP. The PDP which is in alliance with BJP in Jammu and Kashmir has been supportive of engaging Hurriyat in the dialogue. Earlier, the right wing BJP, led union government had cancelled the then foreign secretary's visit to Islamabad in 2014 August in reaction to Pakistani High Commissioner Abdul Basit meeting Hurriyat leader Hurriyat Conference leader Shabir Shah days before planned visit. "On April 28, 2016, the minister of state for external affairs General V K Singh answered a query, which had been received in the past, about the meeting between Shah and Basit. This time, the question was framed in the context of their presence at the Pakistan Day (2016) celebrations," a media reported on Sunday. Singh's written reply claimed, "Since the entire state of Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of the Union of India and these so-called Kashmiri 'leaders' are Indian citizens, there is no bar on their meetings with representatives of any country in India." The deputy foreign Minister said, "However, India has consistently maintained that there is no role for a third party in the bilateral dialogue between India and Pakistan as per the Shimla Agreement and the Lahore Declaration."   Share This News with Your Friends on Social Network     Comment on this Story

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