The prime minister, whose week-long holiday at Prini ends tomorrow, drove sixkilometres to the mountaineering training institute here for his meeting with the media.Making his first public statement on his surprise invitation to Musharraf, he lookedrelaxed and cheerful after six days of relative rest as he answered questions on a varietyof subjects.
Kashmir: Political not religious issue
Stating that his invitation to Musharraf should not be construed as a "weakness"but a demonstration of India's self-confidence Vajpayee said New Delhi always favoured apolitical solution to the Kashmir issue because it did not consider it a religious matter.He said his invitation to Musharraf was a "well thought out" new initiative asboth countries desired peace and hoped Islamabad would respond positively.
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Ceasefire
On ceasefire in Jammu and Kashmir, he said it was done to create a right environment inthe valley. The six-month-long ceasefire was called off as it was found that even afterthree extensions, it had not yielded expected results, he said
Pakistan
To a question, the prime minister recalled Musharraf had stated on several occasions thathe was prepared to talk to India any time, any place and at any level. Other countries hadalso favoured resumption of dialogue between India and Pakistan, he said.
He pointed out that India had never said it would not not talk to a military regime inPakistan. Recalling that Islamabad had military rule for long, he said that even after theKargil conflict, India had maintained full diplomatic relations with Islamabad.
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Hurriyat
He asked the hurriyat conference to talk to government's interlocutor K.C. Pant beforepressing for a meeting with Pakistan's military ruler General Pervez Musharraf. ''Hurriyatleaders were released from jail to enable them to talk to the Indian government. Pant isin Jammu and Kashmir for talks with various groups and they should come forward forparleys with him.''
On Pakistan's demand that Hurriyat leaders should be permitted to meetMusharraf
'DuusroN kii baarii baad meiN aayegii' (the turn of others will come later) he said whenasked about the demand by Pakistan that Hurriyat leaders should be permitted to meetMusharraf during his proposed visit to New Delhi.
The poet and the politician
Reciting a few couplets from his poem "uNchaai" (the height), a poem he said hadbeen penned by him during his stay at Manali, he said, "The poet and politician in meare often locked in a duel and both win and lose occasionally," he said.
Bangladesh
To a question on the killing of 16 BSF soldiers by Bangladesh rifles last month, vajpayeesaid India's response to the incident was "well considered, appropriate andadequate".
Taliban
On imposition of a dress code on Hindus by Taliban in afghanistan, he said it had beencondemned by the entire world and India was mobilising international opinion against it
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Mamata Banerjee
"There is no proposal to take back Mamata Banerjee in the NDA," he said rulingout return of the Trinamool Congress leader and said he would "positively" fillup vacancies in his council of ministers before the monsoon session of parliament, likelyin July.
Himachal
Vajpayee said Himachal should exploit its vast untapped potential in naturetourism, culture tourism, adventure tourism and spiritual tourism. He said that Kulluairport should be expanded, adding that union ministries for tourism, culture and civilaviation would soon hold intensive discussion with the state government for preparing amaster plan for the development of tourism.
He said that he had discussed the problems of the state in detail with the chiefminister, MPs and MLAs and found that the main problem was one of finances.
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He said guidelines for the implementation of Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojanawould be suitably modified keeping in view the peculiar needs and problems of HimachalPradesh and other hilly states.
Replying to a question about the possibility of subsidising the air fare for Himachal,he said that it was a good suggestion.
Chief minister Prem Kumar Dhumal who was also present at the press conference said thatthe decision of the centre to allow execution of hydro power projects upto 300 MW throughMOU route would immensely benefit Himachal Pradesh.
He said that work of Una-Talwara railway line was in progress and requested the centrethat Banupalli-Barmana railway line project be taken up to reduce the congestion on theroad due to Barmana and Dalda cement plants.
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He assured Himachal Pradesh that the state can expect a larger annual plan size for thecurrent year than last year's.And said he would soon convene a meeting in Delhi of theconcerned union ministers and the chief minister to discuss how suitably the state can behelped.
He also assured adequate additional drought relief to Himachal to mitigate thesuffering of farmers and horticulturists. He said 35 crores had already been released tillMay and the report of central team was under consideration.
He said centre would provide additional food grain to the state for food for workprogramme and added this should be utilized for employment generation and creation ofdurable assets.
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The prime minister also announced that centre would provide one time ad hoc relief tothe state by waiving the surcharge of Rs 38.65 crore in respect of the Bairsuel hydroproject.
He said that the centre had accorded priority to hydro power generation and there werea large number of projects which could be taken up.
