Over 12 delegations give suggestions for ‘restoring normalcy’ in the state
After interacting with over a dozen delegations from a cross-section of society, the Congress high-powered “policy planning group” on J&K today started its mission to “reach out to the people” for initiating peace in the state. The group, headed by former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, comprises senior functionaries of the party.
After reaching Jammu thisafternoon, members of the group held discussions with executive committee members of the Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) before starting an interaction with various social and political organisations.
Highly placed sources said that instead of addressing executive committee members, the visiting leaders sought feedback from the district presidents of Jammu province about the prevailing situation in the state. “All district presidents briefed the visiting dignitaries about the deteriorating law and order situation in the state in general and the Kashmir valley in particular,” a source said.
The sources said the state leaders also briefed the group about the ongoing debate on Article 35A and demanded that the party leadership should strongly protect this provision of the Constitution, which granted special status to J&K. “The visiting leaders did not utter a single word about any issue but only sought suggestions from the local leaders,” a source said.
After the two-hour meeting with party leaders, the Congress panel met with various delegations, included the J&K High Court Bar Association (Jammu), Chamber of Commerce and Industries and the Dogri Sanstha. Some of the delegations submitted a written memorandum.
The Congress group comprises senior leaders Karan Singh, P Chidambaram, Ghulam Nabi Azad, Ambika Soni besides representatives of the party from Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh. Except Karan Singh, all other leaders were in Jammu.
“The group will fly back to Delhi tomorrow morning,” the party spokesman said, adding that next week the group would visit Kashmir.
On April 19, the Congress had formulated a policy planning group for J&K to take forward the peace initiative in the state. The group was constituted after a delegation of the Congress and the National Conference from J&K had met Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi and apprised him of the “deteriorating” law and order situation in the state. A meeting of the group was held on May 20 and it was decided in that meeting that the group would visit J&K.
