Azad meets Patil; Discusses troop reduction in Jammu

New Delhi, Mar 29 (UNI) A day after the Congress core group meeting on Jammu and Kashmir, state Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad today met Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil and discussed the current security situation and troop reduction in the strife-torn state.

Sources said Mr Azad apprised Mr Patil about the situation in the state and the ''impact'' of troop withdrawal in the state.

The meeting was held before the Cabinet Committee on Security met to discuss the Jammu and Kashmir coalition partner PDP's demand of troop withdrawal in the state.

The Chief Minister, who arrived here this morning, will attend a dinner meeting hosted by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh this evening which PDP patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed is expected to attend.

Mr Sayeed has already held discussion with the Prime Minister twice on the issue besides holding consultations with UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and National Security Adviser M K Narayanan.

Mr Azad's discussion with the Home Minister was part of a series of meetings being held to discuss the PDP demand of troop withdrawal and repeal of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) and vacation of agricultural and orchard land besides private and government buildings by security forces in the state.

Yesterday immediately after the more than two-hour-long Core Committee meeting, the Prime Minister called up Mr Sayeed, urging him to further extend his stay in Delhi for two more days so as to explore various other alternatives.

This prompted the PDP, which was to hold its political affairs meeting today on crucial issue of continuing in the coalition, to postpone it to March 31.

The meeting at the Prime Minister's 7 Race course Residence was attended, among others, by UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee, Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil and Defence Minister A K Antony besides political secretary to Congress president Ahmed Patel.

UNI