Major eight-point initiative on Kashmir unveiled

New Delhi, Sep 25 (PTI) Under a major 8-point initiative
to address the unrest in the Kashmir valley, a group of
interlocutors is being appointed to hold a "sustained
dialogue" with various shades of opinion, about 200 youth
detained for stone-pelting are being released and the presence
of security personnel is being de-scaled.
Significantly, the notification of areas as "disturbed"
will be reviewed which could pave the way for non-application
of the controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA)
to certain parts which will cease to be treated as disturbed.
Unveiling the initiative after a meeting of the Cabinet
Committee on Security (CCS) under the chairmanship of Indian
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the Central government also
announced grant of ex-gratia relief to the families of the
those killed in civil disturbances since June 11. The total
number of dead is over 100.
Indian Home Minister P Chidambaram, briefing reporters
after an hour-long meeting, said the Centre has also advised
the Jammu and Kashmir government in north India to immediately
review the case of all Public Safety Act detenues and withdraw
the detention orders in appropriate cases.
The move was welcomed by ruling National Conference and
main opposition People's Democratic Party while the
separatists maintained a studied silence over these
announcements.
Chief Minister of J & K Omar Abdullah, who met
Chidambaram after the CCS announcements, welcomed the move and
expressed the hope that these steps would ultimately lead to
resolving of political issues of Kashmir.
He said that he will be convening a Unified Headquarters
meeting next week during which foot-prints of security forces
in towns and withdrawal of "disturbed areas" act in few places
would be discussed.
Opposition PDP said that "it is definitely a good
beginning but more needs to be done."
Separatist groups maintained a studied silence.
Hardliner Syed Ali Shah Geelani, moderates Mirwaiz Umer Farooq
and Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front Chief Yaseen Malik said
they would react only after discussing the issues among their
own parties. MORE PTI SKL
SAK


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