New Delhi: Even as Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee on April 18 offered a hand of friendship to Pakistan, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) opposed any talks with Islamabad or terrorist groups and pooh-poohed the state government's "healing touch policy".

"There is no question of talks as time is not yet ripe till Islamabad stops encouraging militants," party president M Venkaiah Naidu told reporters on the sidelines of a cultural programme organised by BJP Scheduled Tribe Morcha.

"There is no question of any softness towards terrorist groups," he said.

He said the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government was not in favour of talks with Hurriyat Conference as the latter advocated involvement of Pakistan as a third party in the talks.

"This is not possible as Pakistan is encouraging and financing terrorism," he said.

Naidu also took a dig at the People's Democratic Party (PDP)-Congress government's policy of healing touch asking, "Healing touch for whom? For the victims or the militants?"

Asked about the praise heaped on Chief Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed by Vajpayee, the BJP chief said, "He (Vajpayee) did not refer to it (healing touch policy). He only distributed appointment letters to the victims of terrorism."

PTI