Home Minister Patil to lead all-party delegation to J-K today

New Delhi, Aug 9 : An all-party delegation led by Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil will visit Jammu and Srinagar today to end the Amarnath land transfer row.

The visit is being undertaken after deliberations in the all-party meeting chaired by Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh on Wednesday to discuss the situation in Jammu and Kashmir.

The all-party meeting had issued a joint appeal for the restoration of peace and normalcy in the State and to create an environment for the suspension of the agitation.

The delegation of 12 leaders would be drawn from different political parties.

Patil has already appealed to the people of Jammu and Kashmir and all political parties to help in restoring peace in the state. He said that there is no issue that cannot be solved through dialogue.

External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said that all parties also favoured giving more facilities to Amarnath pilgrims like shelter, security and transportation.

ANI