Valley to get 2,000 troops
Omar Abdullah will get another 2,000 central paramilitary personnel to help him "dominate" the situation in Kashmir, but Delhi believes the J&K chief minister needs more than deployment of policemen. HT reports.
Omar Abdullah will get another 2,000 central paramilitary personnel to help him "dominate" the situation in Kashmir, but Delhi believes the J&K chief minister needs more than deployment of policemen.
The Centre suspects it isn't just a mix of alienated youth and separatists hitting the streets but also state-level Opposition parties, primarily the PDP, that are active.
"The Opposition too has joined in, hoping to dethrone the CM," a government source said.
The protests have to be dealt with politically and with police action, the source added.
On Monday, the Cabinet Committee on Security had sent a clear message to Abdullah to dominate the situation and end violence. To achieve this, the security establishment believes, the CM and his colleagues will have to focus on reaching out to the people as well.
There is a section in the Centre that feels the beleaguered CM will have to step up work on both counts: arresting miscreants, putting them behind bars and keeping them there.
An official tracking the action taken by the state police force said nearly 600 people had been arrested since June 11, when the latest round of street protests started. But only 100 are in jail today, 60 under the Public Safety Act.
"The rest have been released, on bail or otherwise… This means they will be back on the streets."
But the Centre insists it isn't in a position to script the initiatives for the state.
"It is up to the chief minister to respond to the situation… It is his political future at stake as well," the government source added.
PM's all-party meet With no let up in violence in the Valley, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has decided to call an-all party meeting. The date is yet to be finalised, but sources indicated it might be on Friday or Saturday.
The decision comes in the wake of a demand by the Opposition in Lok Sabha that they be kept in the loop on Kashmir and the steps taken by the government to restore peace there.
After the meeting, sources said, the PM is likely to make a statement in Parliament.
The Centre, it is believed, will make every effort to persuade the PDP to attend the meet this time. The PDP had stayed away from an all-party meeting convened by Abdullah on July 12 despite a call by the PM to its chief Mehbooba Mufti.
The UPA, which has so far rallied behind Abdullah, has now asked Governor N N Vohra to send daily reports.
"It is an emerging situation. We have to keep a strict watch on the developments. The first priority is to break the current cycle of violence," a senior minister said.