PM willing to meet Hurriyat; dates a problem

Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh has agreed to meet All Parties Hurriyat Conference leaders either tomorrow or on Friday.

The meeting, however, has not been fixed yet because the Hurriyat leaders are insisting on time on April 17 when the prime minister is scheduled to meet Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf.

Interestingly, the Hurriyat leaders had earlier agreed to meet Dr Singh on either of the two dates proposed by his office. What made them suddenly change their mind is not known.

Also see: Hurriyat to meet Musharraf in New Delhi

"The decision of the prime minister meeting the Hurriyat leaders on April 14 or 15 was taken before he went to Kashmir on April 7 to flag-off the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus service," sources in the prime minister's office said. The dates were conveyed to APHC chief Mirwaiz Umer Farooq and he accepted the same.

Now, however, the Mirwaiz has expressed his inability to be in Delhi before April 16 because of a religious ceremony back home.

Officials in New Delhi said the new dates would have to be decided depending on the prime minister's availability.

Speaking to reporters in Chandigarh, Dr Singh said he is ready to meet Hurriyat leaders even though there is an elected government in place in the state "This (Mufti Mohammed Sayeed) government has come to power after democratic elections. But I also recognise that people outside the elected government are also there," Dr Singh said.

Also see:
People's Conference abstains from Hurriyat meeting