Omar wants Centre to hold talks on autonomy

Stepping into the second year in office as Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Omar Abdullah on Tuesday said the Centre should initiate dialogue with political parties in the state on the issue of autonomy.

Stepping into the second year in office as Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Omar Abdullah on Tuesday said the Centre should initiate dialogue with political parties in the state on the issue of autonomy.

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He also feels that the quiet diplomacy launched by Union Home Minister P Chidambaram by talking to separatists including Hurriyat Conference would be sustained and would find a lasting solution to Kashmir issue.

"Yes, I would like the Centre to initiate dialogue on the recommendations of the Justice Sagir Ahmed Committee in which he has said it is necessary for a sustained dialogue to find the political map that will best suit the requirements of the state. I think that something like it should be done," Omar told PTI expressing satisfaction over his first year in office.

To a question what would be his stand keeping in mind the manifesto of his party National Conference demanding for restoration of pre-1953 status of the state, he said, "it's not for me as the Chief Minister to favour one solution as opposed to others. I think what is important is that the dialogue process take places and a solution be worked out.

"What the contours of that solution will be is for time to show. As Chief Minister it would be wrong on my part to suggest that one solution is better than another. My party has a different line but that's different," he said.