Chidambaram talks to J&K PCC leadership

Jammu, Feb 3 (PTI) Union Home Minister P Chidambaramtoday began his two-day visit to Jammu region with a closed-door meeting with top state Congress leadership to discuss thethe "political aspirations" of three regions of the state.

The meeting assumes importance in view of the parallelrallies organised by Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress(JKPCC) and another by dissident Congress leadership, whichwas addressed by Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad on the

death anniversary of Mahatama Gandhi on 30 January.

Chidambaram is understood to have heard the PCC point ofpoint of view about governance and how the party can bestrengthened in the state where it is ruling in alliance withNational Conference.

A delegation of 30 to 40 local Congress leaders,including ministers, MLAs, MLCs and senior office bearers ledby Soz, held the meeting with Chidambaram.

JKPCC chief Saifuddin Soz said the Centre-appointedinterlocutors on Kashmir have submitted their reports to theCentre on their J&K visits and Chidambaram discussed theissues with various political parties besides reviewing thesecurity situation of Jammu Kashmir.

"Chidambaram, who is coming here on my invitation, ismeeting our leaders on political aspects of J&K as theinterlocutors have submitted their reports", Soz toldreporters earlier.

He said the Home Minister "will know the political aspectof Kashmir issue. If there is a political change in J&K, theHome Minister wants to know the voices, wishes and aspirationson the political front of Ladakh, Kashmir and Jammu regionsfrom leaders here", Soz said.

Chidambaramm, who is accompanied by Soz, DirectorIntelligence Bureau (IB), Rajiv Kapoor, Director General (DG)CRPF, K Vijay Kumar and Joint Secretary Home, K Sikandan, willhold a security review meeting here tomorrow and also visitKishtwar district.

The Home Minister will meet Chief Minister Omar Abdullahover breakfast tommorrow and will hold a security reviewmeeting at Abdullah''s residence.

He will also have a dinner meeting with Governor N NVohra at the Raj Bhawan where they are expected to discuss thesecurity situation, counter terrorism operation,infiltration,and governance in the state.

The Home Minister will fly to Kishtwar where he willreview the security situation of five districts of Jammuregion at a high level meeting.

This is for the first time a Union Minister is visitingKishtwar after the then Home Minister L K Advani had gone tothe district in 1998.