Talks on to resolve Amarnath land row

High-level talks were held between top J&K Govt officials and BJP leaders to find an amicable solution to the lingering Amarnath land row.

High-level talks were held on Wednesday between top Jammu & Kashmir government officials and leaders of the BJP and other saffron organisations to find an amicable solution to the lingering Amarnath land row.

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DGP Kuldeep Khuda and Principal Secretary (Home) Anil Goswami separately met leaders of the BJP and the Amarnath Sangharsh Samiti, which is spearheading the stir in Jammu region, official sources told PTI.

The BJP leaders included three MPs SS Ahluwalia, Davinder Singh and RP Singh, state party chief Ashok Khajuria and Jammu Mayor Kavinder Gupta.

Khuda and Goswami appealed to them to call off their stir and come to the negotiating table for finding a lasting solution to the land issue, the sources said.

The BJP leaders turned down the request saying it was for the Amarnath Sangharsh Samiti, an amalgam of 35 political, social and religious outfits, to take a decision in this regard.

At the meeting, the BJP leaders accused Jammu Police of high-handedness and demanded transfer of IGP K Rajendra, the sources said.

The two state government officials also met Sangharsh Samiti leaders, including its chief Leela Karan Sharma and Jammu Bar Association head BS Salathia and urged them to call off their agitation.

The sources said the Sangharsh Samiti agreed to hold further discussions to resolve the issue but was firm on its stand on restoration of land to the Amarnath Shrine Board and removal of Governor NN Vohra.

The leaders said the agitation would continue till their demands were met.