Chidambaram assures JKPCC leaders on Jammu and Kashmir outcome

Jammu, Feb 4 (ANI): Union Home Minister P Chidambaram has assured Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) leaders that they will kept on board on any roadmap for the Valley that may be worked out as per recommendations of the central government-appointed interlocutors.

A delegation of 30 to 40 Congress leaders, including ministers and senior office bearers led by JKPCC chief Saiffuddin Soz, held a meeting with Chidambaram here on Thursday.

After meeting, Soz said: "Chidambaram is in the process of organising a broad response to the political aspects of the Kashmir situation. He wants a broad response to the situation in the Valley which was in focus during a closed-door meeting he held with top state party leaders."

"The Home Minister had heard the PCC point of view about governance and how the party can be strengthened in the state where it is ruling in alliance with National Conference," he added.

" We all think that Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh would remain one. But the feelings of all the three regions should be respected. They should be recognised and there should be no discrimination," he said.

Soz further said that people of the Valley had come out of militancy threat and had forgot about the Sopore killings.

"Militancy has gone. Forget about the Sopore. Now, the people of Kashmir are against militancy, against terrorism and everyone in Kashmir has condemned the Sopore incident. So you must believe that there terrorism is gone," said Soz.

Mangat Ram, senior Congress leader who also had talks with Chidambaram said that the Congress Party and the National Conference Party should have an alteration on the post of Chief Minister to strengthen the alliance.

"The alliance of National Conference and Congress would be made more stronger. There should be a rotation on the post of Chief Ministers so that both the parties should get an equal share. Both the parties should be satisfied, and then only this alliance would work," said Mangat Ram.

Chidambaram also had a dinner meeting with Governor N N Vohra at the Raj Bhawan where they are understood to have discussed the security situation, counter-terrorism operation, infiltration and governance in the state. (ANI)