J-K talks would resume soon, assures Mufti

Admitting that the impasse with the Hurriyat Conference had adversely affected the peace process in Jammu and Kashmir, Chief Minister Mufti ...

Admitting that the impasse with the Hurriyat Conference had adversely affected the peace process in Jammu and Kashmir, Chief Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed said today that it was a 8216;8216;temporary phase8217;8217; and the parleys would resume soon.

8216;8216;The process of talks with the Hurriyat Conference has come to a temporary standstill but very soon the process will begin again. Even Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is interested in early resumption of talks,8217;8217; he said after meeting the PM and Home Minister Shivraj Patil. He said that his optimism arose from the fact that there was a 8216;8216;general understanding among the people that there cannot be any other alternative to talks for improving the situation8217;8217;.

Asked what the state government was doing about roping in the Hurriyat and other groups, Sayeed remained non-committal, saying: 8216;8216;Please wait and watch.8217;8217; According to the UPA8217;s CMP, the state government would act as a facilitator in the talks.

8216;8216;We can bring the horse to the water but cannot make it drink,8217;8217; he replied when asked about roping in other separatist groups in the state.

Asked about the spurt in militant activities, including two attacks on Deputy Chief Minister Mangat Ram Sharma, he said: 8216;8216;Violent incidents are on but the yearning for peace among people is stronger. Violent incidents no longer affect normalcy of the state.8217;8217;

	Geelani puts plans on indefinite hold

			8226; Srinagar: Breakaway Hurriyat Conference chairman S.A.S. Geelani on Monday indefinitely postponed launching his political outfit owing to last ditch efforts by Jamaat-e-Islami chief Syed Nazir Ahmad Kashani to dissuade him from the move that could trigger defections within his party. The move came just minutes before Geelani was to announce his new outfit. 8212;PTI

Ahead of the fixing of annual plan for J-K by the Planning Commission, the CM also briefed the Singh on the state8217;s economic health.

8216;8216;We have demanded speedy construction of railway project in the state besides early completion of the super highway project,8217;8217; he said. Merger of Dearness Allowance with the basic pay for state government employees was also discussed.