New Delhi: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today (July 29, 2004) said that the Government was "willing" to hold talks with "all shades of public opinion" in Jammu and Kashmir, including the Hurriyat Conference, but ruled out such a dialogue at his level.

"We have repeatedly said that we are willing to talk to all groups, various shades of public opinion in Jammu and Kashmir," he said when asked whether the issue of his directly talking to the Hurriyat Conference leadership figured during his meeting with J&K Chief Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed earlier this week.

Asked specifically whether there was any plan to hold talks at his level, Singh said, "There is no discussion of that sort."

The Prime Minister was talking to reporters before leaving on a three-day visit to participate in the BIMST-EC summit in Bangkok.

Singh, whose Government, is facing an Opposition boycott of Parliamentary committees, refused to take any political question.