A think-tank meet in Jammu fuels talk of BJP outreach

SRINAGAR/ JAMMU: The month-long unrest in Kashmir after the killing of a militant commander figured at the conclave of India Foundation, a pro-BJP think-tank, at Patnitop on Sunday, though the party denied having the issue on the agenda.

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The BJP national general secretary, Ram Madhav, tweeted that Kashmir was not discussed during the two-day meet which concluded on Sunday.

“No kite flying,” posted Madhav on Twitter. “Young Thinkers Meet held at Patnitop is an annual event. Nothing to do with Kashmir issue except the venue is the state.”

But a source claimed that delegates discussed an array of issues confronting the country, and the Kashmir situation also figured. Details, however, were not known.

Madhav apparently briefed the participants about steps being taken by the PDP-BJP government to restore peace in the Valley.

The BJP conclave at Patnitop, gave wind to reports that the Modi government was exploring contours of a new “Kashmir outreach” programme as the unrest in the Valley showed no signs of abating.

The meeting attended by senior leaders, including Union minister MJ Akbar and members of the RSS, the BJP’s ideological mentor, further fuelled speculation of an “unofficial Track Two initiative” for Kashmir.

Chief minister Mehbooba Mufti’s PDP said it was unaware of any “outreach” programme that its coalition partner may have conceived. Party spokesman Nayeem Akhtar reaffirmed the stated line that a “dialogue is essential”.