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| Azad, Mufti to meet Sonia today | | Eight-member panel to study J&K troop withdrawal | | NEW DELHI, MAR 25
Mufti Mohammed Sayeed, patron of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) and former Union Home Minister, has at last managed to have face-saving device for himself with the help of the Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh. Following his second round of talks with Manmohan Singh in the Union capital, Mufti Sayeed was officially told that the Centre would form an eight-member committee to study the demand for withdrawal of trops from civlian areas in Jammu and Kashmir. The Mufti has not got much at this stage out of his negotiations in New Delhi. But the fact is that he will go back to Srinagar not empty-handed--his demand for a high-level committee to examine his demand for the withdrawal of troops from Jammu and Kashmir has been conceded by the Prime Minister. With this the differences between the PDP and the Congress over the "gradual" demilitarization of Jammu and Kashmir will gradually die down. The announcement of seting up of the eight-member panel has, signifcantly, resulted in the survival of the Congress-led coaliton government in Jammu and Kashmir.
The move is part of efforts by the UPA government to keep the Congress-PDP coalition going. Prime Minister's Media Advisor, Sanjay Baru, said: “There was near unanimity of use on what needed to be done. Both leaders referred to the importance of the coalition government in Jammu and Kashmir and the vital need to implement the shared vision of peace and tranquility in the Sate which is enshrined the national Common Minimum programme". More signifcantly, Mufti Sayeed will hold talks with Sonia Gandhi on the "crucial" issue of promoting working relationship between the two principal partners of the J&K coalition government--Congress and the PDP. The J&K Chief Minister, Ghulam Nabi Azad, will also participate in the talks with Sonia Gandhi. The government has, meanwhile, agreed to remove security forces posted in agricultural land and orchards, especially in areas, which have not witnessed violence for a long time. It was officially pointed out on Sunday that the eight-member committee would look into the twin demands of troops withdrawal from civilian areas in Jammu and Kashmir and repeal of the Armed Forces Special Forces Act in the State, as put forward by People's Democratic Party (PDP). In the 45-minute meeting, the Prime Minister and Mufti Sayeed agreed that the committee would comprise officials from both the Centre, the State and security forces. The committee would be asked to submit its report within two months. However, the decision on who will head the committee was not taken up in the Saturday's meet. This was Mufti's second meeting with Manmohan Singh during the last one week after PDP threatened to pull out as a coalition partner in the Jammu and Kashmir government headed by Congress stalwart, Ghulam Nabi Azad. Mufti. The PDP, which has been losing political ground in the Valley to the Hurriyat leaders over the demilitarisation issue, raked up the issue and decided to boycott State Cabinet meetings. Earlier, Prime Minister had rejected PDP's demand on immediate troop withdrawal in the Valley, but assured Mufti Sayeed of reviewing it in summer. On Saturday, after Manmohan Singh met the Mufti, Sanjay Baru told reporters that the talks were held in a "warm and cordial atmosphere" and covered all aspects of the current situation. Baru said: "There was near unanimity of views on what needed to be done". He added that further consultations would be held to "advance the objective".
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