Under attack from hardliners, the All Parties Hurriyat Conference on Wednesday announced that it was suspending talks with the Union government.
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"The dialogue process with the government is in suspension because there is no evidence of sincerity and seriousness on their part," Hurriyat chairman Maulana Mohammad Abbas Ansari told reporters at a hurriedly called press conference at the amalgam's headquarters.
"There has to be a perceptible change in the ground situation by the end of this month. If there is not, we will not go for talks with the centre," he added.
Deputy Prime Minister Lal Kishenchand Advani at a meeting with top army and civilian officials earlier this month had directed that utmost care should be taken to prevent human rights violations in the Valley.
Asked if Hurriyat was headed for a pullout from the talks, Ansari said: "We are clinging to hope. Let the government call its officers and direct them to improve the situation.
"We have been saying that issues can be resolved only through talks but the prevailing situation has tied down our hands," the Hurriyat chairman said.
"Naristan area in Tral, Pulwama district has become a living hell. Security officials are claiming that there were militants in the area but that is no excuse to put so many people at inconvenience," Ansari said.
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