First PM, now Patil aborts J-K trip

The visit may now take place only after the Maharashtra elections. Tentatively, official sources said, this could be October last week, but the details will be worked out separately.

Even without the J-K visit, the Home Minister has enough on his plate. Facing increasing criticism over the handling of internal security issues, Patil today held back-to-back meetings and briefings on issues ranging from the security situation in J&K and Manipur to the Naxal problem. This included a meeting with the PM, where the Home Minister briefed him on Manipur.

Later, Army Chief N C Vij gave a presentation to Patil on the overall security situation, particularly in areas where the Army is directly involved in counter-insurgency operations. A considerable time during the hour-long meeting was spent on J-K and the situation in Manipur.

While refusing to part with details, Vij said: ‘‘It was a regular meeting. We talked about everything concerning security. There is so much happening on my front and I just briefed him about it.’’

Patil later met former Manipur chief minister Rishang Keishing, who is said to be in touch with various student and women groups holding protests over Army ‘‘excesses’’ in the state. Keishing offered to initiate talks with these groups if the Home Minister so desired.

‘‘I had come to see the willingness of the Centre to talk to various agitating student groups. Patil said he is willing to talk to them. I will go back and tell them that the Centre is ready to talk to them,’’ said Keishing after his meeting. According to him, Patil could break fresh ground during his trip largely because these outfits were angry at the arrest of some of their leaders. Calling himself a ‘‘well-wisher’’, Keishing said the focus should now be on resolving the problem.

Ahead of his meeting with chief ministers of all Naxal-affected states on September 21 in Hyderabad, Patil was today also briefed by senior officials about the situation in these states. The meeting discussed the specific issues to be taken up with the CMs as well as other issues expected to figure during Patil’s discussions with social organisations and people’s representatives, whom he is slated to meet during the visit.