Need ’violence-free atmosphere’ for talks: PM at Kashmir all-party meet

Mangalore Today News Network

New Delhi, September 15:  Top leaders of all major political parties are now at the Prime Minister’s residence for a meeting on the Kashmir crisis. Addressing the meeting, the PM said that dialogue is the only way route to lasting peace in the region.

But he also stressed "Meaningful dialogue can happen only in an atmosphere free from violence and confrontation.  Discussions can take place only if we have calm and public order.  The Central and State Governments have already appealed to the people of Jammu and Kashmir, especially the youth, to eschew violence.  I reiterate that appeal.  We are ready for dialogue with anybody or any group that does not espouse or practice violence."

The agenda of the PM’s meeting is a search for consensus on how to check the relentless cycle of violence that has left more than 70 civilians dead in the last three months.  Clashes between stone-pelters and security forces have become a near-daily feature in the streets.  "I was shocked and distressed to see young men and women- even children- joining the protests on the streets. While some of these protests may have been impulsive or spontaneous, it cannot be denied that some incidents were orchestrated by certain groups," said Dr Manmohan Singh.

Much of the discussion will focus on the controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA). Opinion on the Act is divided not just between parties, but within the government as well. 

The Act is criticized for giving the Army sweeping powers - it can conduct searches and arrests without warrants, for example.
 

Jammu and Kashmir Chief minister Omar Abdullah wants the Act to be lifted in areas where militancy has been declining. Home Minister P Chidambaram wants to amend the Act to make it more "humane." His blueprint for the revised Act was discussed earlier this week at a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS).

The BJP, however, has expressed its staunch opposition to any changes to AFSPA in Jammu and Kashmir. Defence Minister AK Antony has also been presenting the Armed Forces’ point-of-view - that the Act gives its men critical legal immunity in a state where it is fighting a "proxy war."

The National Conference delegation to the meeting was led by Omar’s father, National Conference leader, Farooq Abdullah. Sources close to Omar say he will decide his next move after today’s meeting ends.  The Chief Minister is smarting from a pointed snub by the union government earlier this week  -it referred, in an official statement, to the "governance-deficit" in J&K. 

Omar is not attending the meeting.

His National Conference, in a veiled threat, has spoken of reconsidering its alliance with Congress if its demands were rejected. "We will not repeat the mistake of 2000," Chaudhry Mohammad Ramzan, who is part of the NC delegation, said ahead of the meeting.

The party had continued to be part of the then ruling NDA even after the Centre rejected the autonomy resolution passed by the State Assembly, where National Conference enjoyed two-third majority.

Senior BJP leaders LK Advani, Arun Jaitley and Sushma Swaraj are at the meeting.  In a speech on Tuesday, Advani  said the UPA government  is "clueless and spineless" about the Kashmir crisis.

The main opposition party in J&K, the People’s Democratic Party is being represented by Mehbooba Mufti.