Violence won't benefit anyone: PM to Kashmiris

New Delhi, Aug 15 (PTI) Indian Prime Minister Manmohan
Singh Sunday told agitating youth in Kashmir that violence
will not benefit anyone and that the government, within the
framework of the state being an integral part of India, was
willing to move forward in any talks with those who abjure
violence.
Addressing the nation on the 64th Independence Day from
the ramparts of historic Red Fort here, he promised to carry
on the recently initiated dialogue process with an emphasis
that the Indian democracy has the "generosity and flexibility"
to address concerns of any group.
While expressing deep regret for loss of lives on the
streets of Kashmir in the last two months, Singh left no one
in doubt that the state is an integral part of India.
"Within this framework, we are ready to move forward in
any talks which would increase the partnership of the common
man in governance and also enhance their welfare," he said as
he unfurled the national tricolour for the seventh consecutive
Independence Day.
"We are ready to talk to every person or group which
abjures violence," Singh said.
Referring to the recent unrest in Kashmir in which over
50 people lost their lives, he said, "The years of violence
should now end. Such violence would not benefit anyone".
Recalling that he recently participated in a meeting
with political parties from Jammu and Kashmir, he said, "We
will endeavour to take this process forward."
In his 35-minute speech, 77-year-old Singh said the
government wants to resolve all differences with Pakistan but
made it clear that the dialogue cannot go far unless terrorism
emanating from there ends.
He talked about the "serious challenge" posed by
Naxalism to internal security and stressed the need for rising
above "personal and political interests" to deal with the
menace firmly through Centre-state cooperation.
At the same time, he said the government was ready to
talk to Naxals if they abjure violence and emphasised that
tribals should get benefits from development.
With a host of leaders, including ruling United
Progressive Alliance Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and major
Oppositioon Bhartiya Janta Party Parliamentary Party Chairman
L K Advani besides ministerial colleagues and diplomats in the
audience, Singh said the government was working to create a
new India where
everyone would have access to better education, healthcare,
food security and other benefits.
However, Singh, who has been under attack over rising
prices of food items and other essentials, acknowledged that
inflation had hurt the poor people more and said the
government was making every effort to control it. (MORE) PTI
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