PM to meet J&K delegations Aug. 10
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has called a meeting of parties from Jammu and Kashmir on next Tuesday to discuss the current situation in the Valley and ways to address it. During the meeting, the PM is expected to seek views of the political parties of the state on ways to restore peace in the Valley which has been witnessing a cycle of violence since June.
Home minister P. Chidambaram told the Rajya Sabha that Dr Singh would be receiving the delegation from Jammu and Kashmir as there have been demands in this regard.
PMO sources said that Dr Singh would meet the delegation on August 10. There have been demands from various sections of Jammu and Kashmir that the PM should call all parties of the state for deliberations on the situation in the Valley.
Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah had called an all-party meeting last month but Opposition PDP refused to attend. Its chief Mehbooba Mufti said the meeting should instead be called by the PM. The Centre on Friday offered a dialogue with all political parties in Jammu and Kashmir and asked the separatists, including hardline Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani, to join it.
Mr Chidambaram said “lessons have been learnt’’ and the Jammu and Kashmir government is reaching out to people. He said if there is even one civilian death, it will diminish the credibility of the governance. Reacting to the Opposition BJP’s charge that there are differences within the ruling coalition in J&K, the home minister said that there is bound to be an “intense debate’’ in a coalition government. He said that the endeavour is to deliver on the promises made to the people of Jammu and Kashmir, including a review of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) and reduction of security personnel in the state, depending on the situation there.
Mr Chidambaram said PM would be receiving an all-party delegation from J&K, possibly on Monday, and that leaders of parties in Parliament would also be called for a meeting soon. The home minister said that the Centre is also open to the idea of sending an all-party delegation to J&K.
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