PM hosts dinner meeting for Azad, Mufti

New Delhi, Sept 2 (UNI) Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh tonight hosted a dinner for Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed at his residence here.

UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi was also present on the occasion, which, according to sources, was called to iron out differences among the coalition partners in the state.

The sources sid Dr Singh had fixed the meeting for a couple of days ago, for which Mr Sayeed had arrived in the national capital this morning while Mr Azad reached here this evening.

The Congress-PDP coalition in Jammu&Kashmir was on the verge of collapse earlier this year over the latter's demand for reduction of troops and removal of the controversial Armed Forces' (Special Powers) Act from the troubled state. The Prime Minister had then intervened and met Mr Sayeed and his daughter and party president Mehbooba Mufti for discussions on the issue. It was then decided to set up a committee under the Defence Secretary to look into the matter of troop withdrawal and repeal of special laws.

UNI