Kashmir lawyers not to meet all-party delegation

Srinagar, Sep 3 (PTI) Kashmir High Court Bar Association(KHCBA) today said it will not meet the all-party delegationled by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh which is scheduled toarrive here tomorrow on a two-day visit to hold talks with allstakeholders in an attempt to resolve the Kashmir problem. "We the members of High Court Bar Association, numberingmore than 1,000, are sorry to inform you that we cannot meetthe members of the delegation because we know that there isnothing in your hands," the lawyers’ body said in an openletter to the all-party delegation. The association said such initiatives in the past hadyielded nothing. "You were here in 1990, 2008 and 2010, but that time alsoafter meeting the people, you did nothing. The reason isobvious that you have your own limitations. We also know thatbefore coming to Kashmir, you were briefed by Home Ministryofficials for several days," the association said. The KHCBA said it was "not afraid of talking to you" butthe exercise was futile in view of the assertion made by theCentre that Kashmir is an integral part of India. "When your delegation members proceed on the assumptionthat Kashmir is an integral part of India, what is the fun oftalking to you. "You used your best oratory in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabhato persuade Rajnath Singh to stop the use of pellet guns inKashmir, but you could not succeed in stopping the use ofpellet guns in Kashmir," it said. Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s statementyesterday that Kashmir issue can be addressed through ‘Vikas'(development) and ‘Vishwas’ (trust) , the association said "Isit for that, that you have come to Kashmir and invite thepeople to talk to you? If it is so, which reality it is, it isonly a wastage of time to engage any Kashmiri in talks withyour delegation". Normal life remained paralysed for the 57th day today inthe Valley even as 70 people have been killed and severalthousand others injured in clashes between protesters andsecurity forces since Hizbul Mujahideen militant Burhan Waniwas killed in an encounter in south Kashmir on July 8. Meanwhile, All Parties Sikh Coordination Committee alsoannounced that it will not meet the all-party delegationunless the Centre started a serious and meaningful dialoguewith all stakeholders in Jammu and Kashmir. PTI MIJ KUN SKKUN