M A I N   N E W S

CCS mum on AFSPA, calls all-party meeting
* Expresses distress over fresh valley violence
* Reiterates govt intention to restart dialogue
* Says discussion only way forward
Anita Katyal
Our Political Correspondent

New Delhi, September13
The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), which held a three-hour meeting this evening to discuss various options on curtailing the growing violent protests in Jammu and Kashmir, today chose to once again explore the option of a political dialogue as a solution to the problem for which it has called an all-party meeting on Wednesday.

The meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, steered clear of acceding to Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s request for the gradual withdrawal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) in certain districts as part of a larger peace package for the troubled border state. The ongoing violence has rendered this option untenable at present, UPA sources said.

The all-party meeting may be followed by a visit of an all-party delegation to Kashmir with an objective of opening a dialogue with different groups that may include separatists, civil society representatives and the new leadership of protesters.

The Centre’s roadmap for a renewed dialogue was reflected in the official statement made after the meeting. “The UPA has always held the belief that dialogue and discussion is the only way forward to find a lasting solution,” the statement said, adding that the Centre had made similar attempts in the past to hold talks with political parties, including the Hurriyat, but to little avail.

Well aware that the protesters may not be satisfied with announcements of rehabilitation and job packages as they remain adamant on a political solution to the long-standing Kashmir dispute, the Centre today went a step further by assuring them that the proposed dialogue would cover “all issues that agitate the minds of people of Jammu and Kashmir, especially the youth.” The CCS also expressed distress over the “turn of events” in the Valley since Saturday and appealed to the people of Kashmir, especially the youth; to refrain from violent protests.

The decision to take the political route was arrived at after several rounds of discussions which the Prime Minister had conducted with his Cabinet colleagues, Congress president Sonia Gandhi and leaders of other political parties. There was an overwhelming view that it is absolutely critical at this juncture to reach out and engage with the people of Kashmir instead of debating the pros and cons of withdrawing the AFSPA and other peace initiatives with each other.

Though the escalating violence has triggered demands from the BJP that Omar Abdullah be asked to step down for mishandling the situation, security agencies do not agree on the ground that it would show up the state’s weakness. The Congress has maintained a studied silence on this issue but there is a growing uneasiness in the party that Omar’s continuation is hurting Sonia Gandhi who is perceived to be supporting him. UPA sources said Omar had offered to step down when he met the Prime Minister and Sonia last time but he was prevailed upon by his father Farooq Abdullah to continue.

Hours before the meeting, Omar had separate meetings with Sonia Gandhi and Home Minister P Chidambaram today during which a political package for the state figured during the deliberations.