Patil to visit J-K to prepare for PM’s visit

The PM is likely to announce a package to the tune of Rs 3,000 crore for the state. He is also scheduled to meet the business community to rejuvenate the shattered economy of the state.

Visiting the state for the first time as Home Minister, Patil said he was not averse to meeting any group, and there were about 20-25 of them on his agenda. Though he declined to comment, whether the Hurriyat Conference had been sent an invitation to talk to him during his visit, sources said a meeting between the two may not be possible since Ramzan was on.

‘‘Hurriyat leaders are anyway reluctant to meet the Home Minister, and Ramzan has given them the excuse,’’ sources said.

Patil said: ‘‘I am going to meet lots of people, representing various groups. Let us not focus all our efforts towards one group only. I do not want to say much about Hurriyat Conference,’’ he said.

While he is not carrying any new proposals during the visit, Patil said it was important to keep the momentum of the peace process going. ‘‘I am willing to meet anyone who wants to meet me,’’ he reiterated.

In prepration of the visit, Patil chaired a meeting of senior security and intelligence officials in the morning. The meeting was attended, among others, by Centre’s official interlocutor on Jammu and Kashmir N.N. Vohra, Home secertary Dhirendra Singh, special secretary Anil Chowdhry, Army vice chief Lt General Shantanu Chaudhry, chiefs of BSF, CRPF and ITBP, director Intelligence Bureau A.K. Doval and RAW chief C.D. Sahay.

During the meeting, the Home Minister reviewed the security situation and development activities in the state. Later, he said violent incidents were down compared to the previous two years and infiltration from across the border had decreased.

Patil would visit the Line of Control to review the work on border fencing.