The Hindu : Front Page : No breakthrough in talks on Amarnath row

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Wednesday, Aug 13, 2008
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No breakthrough in talks on Amarnath row

Vinay Kumar

Government will take steps to engage all groups concerned, says Shivraj Patil

“There is no blockade on highway”
No obstacle in movement of fruits: Minister

NEW DELHI: The leaders of the all-party delegation that went to Jammu and Srinagar over the week-end to find a negotiated solution to the raging Amarnath land row met Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil for the second day on Tuesday but there was no breakthrough.

As the government faced a grim situation in Jammu and the curfew-bound Kashmir Valley, the all-party meeting favoured engaging all the groups concerned from Jammu as well as the Valley to work for restoring peace and normality.

“The government will take steps to engage all groups concerned from Jammu as well as the Kashmir Valley in talks so that the issues could be resolved amicably to the satisfaction of all concerned,” Mr. Patil told journalists after A nearly three-hour long meeting. He said no solution could be found without taking both the sides along.

Though various suggestions were made by the leaders at the two rounds of talks, they failed to arrive at a consensus and there was no commonality in various suggestions made by them.

Mr. Patil said the meeting saw several options such as initiating the dialogue process by inviting representatives of both Jammu and Kashmir regions here, sending a delegation to the State, or the Centre constituting a committee to start talks.

The four-member committee, set up by Governor N.N. Vohra, could also initiate a dialogue, it was felt.

Mr. Patil said all necessary steps have been taken to ensure uninterrupted movement of vehicles on the Jammu-Srinagar national highway. He maintained that there was no blockade on the highway and other parts of the country, and there was no obstacle in the movement of fruits and other items. “Therefore, there is no reason for agitation on this issue.”

The Minister said more facilities would be provided to the Amarnath pilgrims by both the Central and State governments and there was no objection from any quarter.

He appealed to the State people to remain calm and help the authorities in restoring peace. “I wish wisdom and goodwill prevail in Jammu and Kashmir and peace restored.”

The Centre was watching the situation and it would not leave any stone unturned to solve the crisis.

On the possibility of the Hurriyat Conference participating in any talks with the government, he said the amalgam did take part in two rounds of dialogue with the Prime Minister but later refused to participate in the process. “The policy of the government is not to deny anyone one’s right to express.”

“Not appropriate”

The move by a section of people in the Valley to “forcefully” transport fruits to Pakistan- occupied Kashmir (PoK) was “not appropriate” as Islamabad and New Delhi were yet to make any agreement on cross-LoC trade.

Many political leaders expressed their grave concern over the “worsening situation” in the State. They favoured talks with both sides at a higher level and emphasised the need for the government to take drastic initiatives at a fast pace.

Informed sources said Mr. Patil would meet the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Wednesday to brief him about the two rounds of discussions with the political leaders.

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