New Delhi: Critical of Government's assertion that talks with Hurriyat Conference would be held on devolution of powers only, Kashmir Committee chairman Ram Jethmalani today (Nov 5) said extreme positions should be given up for the dialogue to be successful.

"Dialogue cannot be started with a predetermined mindset," the noted lawyer said, commenting on Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani's statement that Government would hold talks with Hurriyat on devolution of powers.

After being named to hold talks with Hurriyat, Advani had stated that Government was willing to hold talks on "decentralisation" of powers, but would not compromise with unity and integrity of the country.

"This is not the way a dialogue is conducted. It indicates the Government is not serious," Jethmalani told reporters.

Dubbing Advani's remarks as "unnecessary pin-pricks" that could "scuttle the dialogue process", he said, "Talks should start with open minds and issues can be sorted out on the table."

He said "everyone" had agreed that dialogue should be held by shunning extreme positions.

Suggesting that talks could be held on autonomy, Jethmalani said he was helping in his own way to facilitate the dialogue.

Earlier, Jethmalani presented the Mahatma Gandhi Award for International Understanding to senior vice president of the World Jewish Congress Isi Leibler on behalf of the Sanskrit-Hebrew Society.

PTI