PM, Mufti discuss PDP demands; Talks to continue

New Delhi, Mar 22: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and PDP patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed today discussed the PDP demands of ''gradual troop withdrawal'' and repeal of draconian laws, including Disturbed Areas Act, in Jammu and Kashmir and decided to continue talks on the issues.

However, Mr Sayeed declined to comment on the fate of the Jammu and Kashmir coalition government of which the PDP is the junior partner, saying the subject was not on the agenda.

''I fully explained the view of the PDP on gradual withdrawal of forces and repeal of the Disturbed Areas Act to the Prime Minister and we will keep meeting again to take the discussion forward,'' Mr Sayeed told reporters after an almost hour-and-a-half luncheon meeting with the Prime Minister.

''I also conveyed to Dr Singh the ground situation in the state and the how the people will benefit and get relief by this move,'' he added.

The PDP had threatened to pull out if its demands, troop withdrawal, repeal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) and Disturbed Areas Act and vacation of agricultural and horticultural land and civilian buildings, including educational institution, by the security forces, were not met.

The former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister said the discussion on the coalition was not on the agenda of the meeting.

''I had a detailed discussion with Dr Singh and the coalition was not a subject to be discussed... why are you (media) putting the cart before the horse,'' he added.

However, the PDP has called a meeting of its political affairs committee in Srinagar on March 25 to decide on withdrawing from the 54-month-old coalition.

Sharp differences emerged within the coalition in the state over the demands which deepened further after Dr Singh, in a letter on March 14, rejected the PDP's demands.

Mr Sayeed, who attended the UPA dinner hosted by the Prime Minister last night, said the people of Jammu and Kashmir have expressed faith in the political and democratic system and efforts must made to strengthen their confidence. ''We believe that troop withdrawal will help in further strengthening their faith... Fake encounter and killings should not be allowed to break that confidence,'' he observed.

Pointing out that Home Minister Shivraj Patil, Army Chief J J Singh and Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad had on record said that the general situation in the state had improved, the former Chief Minister reiterated that the people centric-CBM should be announced.

Amid reports of a crisis within the Congress-led coalition, on March 18, Dr Singh telephoned Mr Sayeed and invited him for talks here. The next day, the Prime Minister met Mr Azad and held a detailed discussion on sorting out the irritants in the ties between the allies.

The PDP has stayed away from the last three State Cabinet meetings as a mark of protest.

Earlier, Dr Singh and Mr Sayeed had exchanged letters on the issue. On March 5, the former chief minister had turned down the Prime Minister's invitation for talks on health grounds and instead written to Dr Singh.

In response, the Prime Minister had said the demand for immediate troop reduction and repeal of AFSPA was unacceptable, though he had agreed to troops vacating civilian properties in a phased manner. Dr Singh had also promised that the Centre could review troop reduction proposal in the summer, depending on the scale of violence.

PDP President Mehbooba Mufti had earlier met Congress president and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Dr Singh, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Defence Minister A K Antony over the issues, arguing that these would be the biggest Kashmir-specific confidence building measures (CBMs).

UNI