New Delhi: Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee today (Apr 25, 2004) said that the stage has not come for the Centre to hold talks with those other than the Hurriyat Conference.

"That stage has not come. We will have to talk to Hurriyat," he said in an interview when asked whether the Government would consider broad basing the dialogue beyond the separatist amalgam Hurriyat.

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To a question on militants stepping up violence in Jammu and Kashmir, he said the news from the State was good that people were going in large numbers to vote.

"The violence has gone up because people are going to vote and they (militants) want to stop them from voting. Our reports are good. People are enthusiastic and coming to vote despite violence and braving threats."

Asked about Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf's recent statement on Kashmir, Vajpayee said India was committed implementing the January agreement between the two countries in letter and spirit".