India is prepared to talk to the newly-elected representatives of Jammu and Kashmir anddiscuss greater devolution of powers to the state, India's deputy primeminister Mr Lal Krishna Advani said today.
Nearly half of all voters in India's only Muslim-majoritystate ignored a separatist call for a boycott of the stateelections and threats of violence by militants to cast ballotsin the disputed state.
"The dialogue is mainly is connection with how much power isshould be devolved to the people of Jammu and Kashmir," Mr Advanisaid.
He said the government was prepared to talk to other peoplein Kashmir, including militants who give up arms, but wouldfirst consult the elected lawmakers.
He said the talks would also look at the grievances ofpeople in Jammu and Leh regions - which have large non-Muslimcommunities - about what they say is a concentration of poweramong people from the state's Kashmir valley.
Nearly a dozen militant groups are fighting New Delhi's rulein Jammu and Kashmir, which is claimed by both India andPakistan. The revolt has left more than 35,000 dead in the last13 years.
