PM sets up 5 panels for J&K normalisation

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday announced the constitution of five working groups to take the dialogue process in Kashmir ahead and look for a "consensual" solution.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday announced the constitution of five working groups to take the dialogue process in Kashmir ahead and look for a "consensual" solution.

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Wrapping up the second roundtable conference on Kashmir, Singh said the groups would "look more closely at the broad issues and problems". The groups will have the following tasks: CBMs to improve condition of those affected by militancy; strengthening relations across the LoC in terms of increasing people-to-people contact; economic development; ensuring good governance; and strengthening Centre-state relations.

The group looking into the Centre-state relations will deliberate on the special status of J&K and also discuss self-rule in terms of regional federalism and greater autonomy for J&K.

The PM said he was ready to take on board the dialogue process all except those who are not prepared to give up arms. "Anybody who shuns violence is welcome," Singh said at a press conference in reply to a question on Hizb-ul-Mujahideen's claim that no dialogue process would succeed without the participation of militants. The PM regretted the absence of the Hurriyat Conference at the meet but hoped that its leaders would consider joining the process in future.

Bus blast kills three in Srinagar: The Valley hasn’t gone without terror for thelast five days. Thursday was no different. A blast on a tourist bus in Batapora near Hazratbal left three people — a woman and two children — dead and eight others wounded. The condition of three of the injured is said to be critical.