Srinagar, Apr 8: A senior Congress leader in Jammu and Kashmir today said the militants, as a pre-condition, have to first drop the guns for their inclusion in the ongoing dialogue process.

Addressing a public meeting at Sonawari in north Kashmir, state Congress vice president Abdul Gani Vakil said his party was not against the involvement of militant groups in the ongoing dialogue process. ''But, as a pre-requisite, they have to first drop the guns,'' he added.

Mr Vakil said for the resolution of contentious issues, the gun- wielding face has to be transformed into a civil face. ''Today, nobody knows who represents whom in the militant groups.'' He said the aspirations of the people from all the three regions of the state have to be taken into consideration while addressing the vexed Kashmir issue.

The Congress leader asked the Hurriyat Conference to understand the ground reality and carry forward the dialogue process.

''No single party is in a position to resolve the issues at an individual level. If any party tries to make the people believe this, it is only be-fooling them,'' he added.

Mr Vakil called upon political parties and other groups to sincerely strive for addressing the issues and be part of a joint strategy in this regard.

He hailed Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad for his historic steps and policies to ensure peace and development in the state. Mr Azad's people-friendly decisions have further catapulted his image in the state, making him the man of the masses, he added.

''Unfortunately, some are scared of Mr Azad's popularity and out to raise insignificant issues to divert the attention of the people from his revolutionary schemes,'' Mr Vakil said.

Jammu and Kashmir was at present on the crossroad of development and political transformation, he said, adding that sincerity and consensus approach was a must to settle all issues once for all.

UNI