The Hindu : National : UPA constituents likely to meet Pranab on Jammu issue

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UPA constituents likely to meet Pranab on Jammu issue

Special Correspondent

PM to preside over all-party meeting today
J&K Congress leaders demand recall of Governor

NEW DELHI: Leaders of the ruling United Progressive Alliance constituents are likely to meet External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee ahead of an all-party meeting on Wednesday to discuss the situation in Jammu. Jammu has been witnessing protests over the Amarnath land transfer issue.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will preside over the meeting later in the day. Sources in the government said the Congress and the UPA constituents would discuss various options and ways to defuse the situation.

Meanwhile, Congress leaders from Jammu have apprised the government of their demand for recalling Governor N.N. Vohra, who on June 30 cancelled the land allotment to Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board, triggering protests in Jammu. The State was brought under Governor’s rule following withdrawal of support by the People’s Democratic Party to the Ghulam Nabi Azad government.

With Assembly elections scheduled for October, the Centre’s concern is to bring the situation under control, restore normality.

Concerned over the more than a month-old protests in Jammu, the Centre on Tuesday rushed Union Home Secretary Madhukar Gupta and Defence Secretary Vijay Singh to the State for assessing the situation. They are likely to brief the Prime Minister and Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil ahead of the all-party meeting.

Sources in the security establishment were also concerned that a prolonged agitation or protests could be “misused” by the elements across the border to exploit the situation and communalise it.

Border Security Force chief A.K. Mitra on Tuesday said that 800 militants, trained by Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence, were waiting for an “opportunity” to be pushed into India.

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