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| Govt-Samiti talks inconclusive, agitation continues | | | Early Times Reporter
Jammu | Aug 23
Samiti Wants
• Permanent allotment of land to SASB
• Recall of Governor Vohra from J&K
• Loss compensation to Jammu traders
• Panels seeks time to resume dialogue
• Fourth, final round likely on Tuesday
The only meaningful dialogue between the government and Shri Amarnath Yatra Sangharsh Samiti (SAYSS) ever since eruption of agitation in Jammu, today ended in a deadlock even as both sides described the discussions as fruitful and productive. The ongoing agitation and shut down will continue till, at least, Tuesday when the Government’s panel and the Samiti members are expected to meet yet again for the fourth and conclusive round of dialogue.
After three rounds of dialogue between an official panel of four members headed by Dr Sudhir Singh Bloeria and a similar panel of four members of SAYSS a consensus on the contentious issues could not be evolved. Both sides, however, exuded confidence of breaking impasse in next round of dialogue. The Samiti members and official panel is likely to meet again on Tuesday. After hearing the Samiti demands in three rounds of parleys, the Governor’s four-member panel asked for three-day’s time to have consultations within the government for arriving at a conclusion.
The third round of dialogue ended at around 10:30 PN tonight. Emerging out of the meeting at State Guest House here, the Samiti members said that they were clear on their demands and were in no mood to climb down from the stated position. Besides two already known demands –restoration of land to the Shri Amarnath Yatra Shrine Board and recall of the Governor NN Vohra –the Samiti today put a third demand before the panel. They asked for compensation of traders who suffered on account of shut downs and curfews during these two months of agitation.
After a prolonged deadlock and lack and trust, a dialogue which finally began between the Shri Amarnath Yatra Sangharsh Samiti and the four-member panel nominated by the Governor NN Vohra, is believed to have made some significant headway even though it remained inclusive.
The four-member panel headed by Dr Sudhir Singh Bloeria, the Advisor to the Governor had three rounds of meetings with the four-member panel nominated by Shri Amarnath Yatra Sangharsh Samiti here today. Other members in the official panel were Justice (retd) GD Sharma, Bharat Bhushan Vyas, the Chief Executive Officer of the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board and Principal Secretary to the Government and Amitabh Mattoo, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Jammu. The SAYSS was represented by Brigadier Suchet Singh, Tilak Raj Sharma, Pawan Kohli and Narendra Singh.
After two rounds, the last word from both sides was that they have agreed to meet again to hammer out a solution. However, sources told EARLY TIMES that some headway has been on the dialogue and both sides have reverted back for consultations before they meet for the next round which may be conclusive.
''The dialogue with the Governor's panel started amidst a congenial atmosphere and they tabled some of the proposals before us, but it is too early to disclose them,'' Brigadier Suchet Singh, one of the constituents of the Sangharsh Samiti committee told reporters. Brigadier Singh, however, said that the Samiti discussed nothing short of the restoration of land to the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) with the panel appointed by Jammu and Kashmir Governor N N Vohra. ''We are hopeful of positive results”, Brig Singh told media persons.
An official spokesman said, after conclusion of second round of talks, that the meetings were very constructive and fruitful. He said very good progress has been made and the matter will be pursued further.
Earlier in the day, Bloeria, who led the dialogue on Governor’s behalf, said “the exchange of views was held in a very constructive and cordial atmosphere and we have agreed to meet again and continue our discussions”. After second round of the meeting he said, “the second round of talks was fruitful and productive and we have decided to meet again”.
Though neither the Samiti members nor the government officials were forthcoming to come on record about technicalities of the dialogue, sources said that good headway is reported to have been made during the parleys. This time the official panel is reported to have come with a concrete proposal for discussion with the Samiti. Though most parts of the panel’s proposal were already well known, the government has offered to reconstitute the Board with all local members.
It is learnt that the government has also offered to out the 800 kanals of land at Baltal at the disposal of reconstituted Shri Amarnath Yatra Shrine Board for a period of three months every year with the provisions to erect temporary arrangement for the Amarnath pilgrims.
In another positive development, the leaders from the two regions have assured an all-faith "peace mission" that they are open to dialogue with each other.
The mission, which visited both Jammu and Srinagar with the Centre's approval and facilitation, was told by Hurriyat leaders from the Valley that Kashmiri Muslims were prepared to facilitate the Amarnath yatra.
While the essential issue of allotting land to the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board remains the nub of the dispute, the preparedness of both sides to meet and talk is a gain. So far, the Centre has not been able to open dialogue between leaders of the two regions.
When home minister Shivraj Patil visited Jammu at the head of an all-party delegation, the Amarnath Sangharsh Samiti refused to meet PDP and NC leaders. Sangharsh Samiti's Leela Karan Sharma assured the delegation — which consisted of Muslim, Hindu and Christian leaders — that they were ready to talk with leaders from Kashmir only as long as the core issue of allotting the land at Baltal is addressed.
Hurriyat leaders have also agreed on talking to Jammu leaders, who have continued a total bandh in the region for the last 54 days. Representing the moderate faction of the Hurriyat Conference, MirwaizUmer Farooq told the peace delegation, "The yatra and Amarnath cave isnot an issue for us today. The yatra has never been opposed by us...it is only a propaganda against us. The yatra has continued even when bullets were being fired." |
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