PM asks Mufti to extend stay in Delhi, to meet Azad also

Srinagar, Mar 29 (UNI) In a significant development, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has asked PDP patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed to extend his stay in the national capital for few more days and also called Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad for talks on troop reduction in the strife-torn state, well-placed sources said today.

The sources said Mr Azad has already left for Delhi and as such, the Cabinet meeting scheduled for today in Jammu has been postponed.

In view of the developments, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), a key partner in the Congress-led coalition government in Jammu and Kashmir, has also deferred the crucial meeting of its Political Affairs Committee (PAC), also scheduled for today.

The sources said the meeting was likely to be held here on Saturday when Mr Sayeed returns from the national capital.

They said the Prime Minister was likely to hold another round of consultations with Mr Sayeed later in the day.

It was not so far clear if Mr Azad would also be present in that meeting or the Prime Minister holds separate talks with the Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister over the latest developments.

The developments followed a high-level meeting in Delhi last evening to discuss various aspects of the PDP's demand for troop reduction, revocation 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.

The meeting at the Prime Minister's residence last evening 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.

The more than two-hour-long meeting unanimously decided to take Mr Azad's viewpoint before taking a decision on the PDP demands.

PDP sources said the Prime Minister yesterday called up Mr Sayeed at the end of the meeting, urging him to further extend his stay in Delhi for two more days so as to explore various other alternatives.

They said the Centre must, as a first step, immediately announce the formation of a committee which would look into the PDP demands and thus reciprocate the peoples' feelings.

The sources said the committee must then submit its report within the fixed time-frame and after thorough survey, identify areas from where troops could be withdrawn.

''We have been vehemently demanding troop withdrawal and it must happen. We are ready to go to any extent to see that our demands are met. We are the voice and the representatives of the people and want their feelings be reciprocated. It is important to see the intensity of our demands,'' they added.

UNI