Jammu, July 30
After over a month of the Amarnath land row stir and a spell of shutdowns and curfew in Jammu, the state government today formally initiated a dialogue with the agitating outfits. Principal Secretary (Home) Anil Goswami held a meeting with leaders of the Amarnath Yatra Sangharsh Samiti, a conglomerate of over 30 social, political and religious groups, at Geeta Bhawan in the morning. However, nothing major could come out of the meeting that lasted about 15 minutes. Goswami left the meeting venue without uttering a word to the mediapersons.

Later, Samiti convener Leela Karan Sharma said he had received a letter from Governor N.N. Vohra, inviting the conglomerate for a dialogue last night. He said they asked the Principal Secretary as to what proposal the government has to offer to them. In reply, the principal secretary asked them to first sit across the negotiating table. However, the samiti told him to first create a "congenial atmosphere" for the dialogue. Clarifying on the pre-conditions, Sharma said the cases registered against the protesters should be unconditionally withdrawn and they be immediately set free. He also sought action against the cops involved in alleged brutalities on the agitators.

Bandh extended The samiti has decided to extend the Jammu bandh for another three days . Samiti convener Leela Karan Sharma denied that it was calling off the agitation, asserting that the stir would, in fact, be intensified in the coming days. He said the samiti would present its charter of demands to the Governor at Raj Bhawan, Jammu, and urge the government to resolve the issue.

Earlier, Goswami and DGP Kuldeep Khoda visited the state BJP office and met the party's central delegation and the state leadership to discuss the issue. "They urged the party to ask the people to call off the agitation. However, we told them that it was not our agitation alone and being a part of the samiti the BJP would support whatever decision it takes," state BJP president Ashok Khajuria said.

However, it won't be easy for the two sides to break the deadlock. The way the agitation has gained support in the region, the samiti cannot afford to compromise on its main demand for the restoration of land to the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board. It was evident when Sharma said: "Land is the core issue. Right from the day one, we have been seeking the reversal of the order revoking land diversion to the shrine board." The government, on the other hand, could not concede its demand, as it would again push the valley back into turmoil. In such a scenario, finding a middle path for the government would be a tough task.