Narayanan meets Farooq, Omar in Valley

During his meeting with the NC leaders, Narayanan reportedly sought their opinion on how the Centre should move forward. Sources said the discussion seemed more like a fact-finding exercise than a discussion about the Centre8217;s concrete plan of action. However, Narayanan didn8217;t meet the People8217;s Democratic Party PDP leadership.

Narayanan was given detailed presentations by the police, security forces and the civil administration. According to sources, 8220;the broader consensus was not to use force to curb the protest rallies of the separatists8221; as 8220;it will create more problems than solve anything8221;.

A senior officer told The Indian Express that the future course of action for tackling the separatist groundswell and the forthcoming Friday prayer rally at Eidgah was extremely difficult. 8220;Though the broad consensus is to continue with a no-confrontation approach, there are serious issues,8221; said the officer. 8220;The desecration of the Tricolour and extremely provocative slogans are a serious problem. We have to deal with that too8221;.

Narayanan was accompanied by Defence Secretary Vijay Singh, Joint Intelligence Committee Chairman H Upadayay, Intelligence Bureau Director P C Haldar and the Joint Secretary in the Prime Minister8217;s Office, Sanjay Mitra.