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| Prime Minister’s dinner diplomacy softens Mufti but sword on coalition hangs | | | Jammu, March 22
He went with a sword in his hand but returned wearing a sack cloth with ash smeared on his forehead. This is the crux of the meeting former Kashmir Chief Minister, Mufti Mohd. Sayeed, had with Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh in Delhi on Thursday. On Wednesday the Mufti had said in Delhi that he would not be satisfied with ‘window dressing’ by the centre on his demand for troop reduction in civilian areas and “my party cannot wait till summer. ” He even went to the extent of describing the current crisis between the PDP and the Congress as “very serious.” This posture of defiance was seen having vanished after the Mufti came out of his meeting with the Prime Minister. Reports said that he had been convinced by Dr Manmohan Singh that the time was not ripe for withdrawing troops when continued operations by the security forces had brought the level of militancy related violence down. Reports reaching here said that the Mufti explained his views to the Prime Minister on withdrawal of troops, repeal of Armed Forces Special Powers Act and vacation of troops from orchards and houses occupied by them. According to these reports, the Prime Minister gave a patient hearing to the Mufti during the 45-minute long meeting. One thing that emerged from the talks was that the Mufti’s demand for reduction of troops from within the state was not categorically rejected. Dr Manmohan Singh and Mufti Sayeed agreed to continue the
dialogue on the issues raised by the latter. Mufti Sayeed is said to have softened his stand when he was told that his demands, if accepted right now, could create problems for UPA Government, especially the Congress, in states, including Uttar Pradesh, where the Assembly poll was round the corner. After the deliberations on the issues Mufti Sayeed called on N.N.Vohra,centre’s interlocutor on J&K . Vohra also conveyed to the Mufti that the demand for cut in the strength of troops and other issues could be discussed in detail during fresh talks. Before meeting the Prime Minister the Mufti had also held brief talks with UPA chairperson,Ms Sonia Gandhi,who is said to have advised him not to do anything which could rupture the ruling coalition. In fact both Ms Sonia Gandhi and Dr Manmohan Singh wanted Mufti’s cooperation in strengthening the coalition Government in Jammu and Kashmir. The PDP patron,reports said,did not agree to a suggestion made by the prime Minister that the issues raised by him (Mufti) could be reviewed and discussed by a high level committee which the Government would constitute. He wanted the matter to be sorted out by the Prime Minister with the PDP leadership. Giving no assurance to PDP patron Mufti Mohammed Sayeed on troop withdrawal from civilian areas in Jammu and Kashmir for the time being, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday, however, agreed to continue discussions on the issue. After a 45-minute luncheon meeting with the Prime Minister, the PDP leader, who had made it clear that he cannot wait till summer for force withdrawal, skirted querries from reporters on the issues raised by him. “I informed the Prime Minister of issues like gradual withdrawal of forces, repeal of anti-terror laws and vacation of public property by security forces,” he said. Informed sources said that the feedback the Mufti had received from his party colleagues,indicating they were opposed to snapping ties with the Congress,had forced him to adopt soft stance in front of the Prime Minister. Indications are that the PDP may not withdraw support to the Azad led Government which is evident from the fact that the two have “ agreed to continue the conversation,” which by itself is a pointer against any immediate threat to the coalition Government in Jammu and Kashmir.
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