Scenes unseen in Valley: VIPs talk power sharing

Vajpayee, in his speech, noted the significance of the venue. ‘‘A meeting of the country’s apex forum of cooperative federalism taking place in Srinagar is yet another message that the situation in the state is changing’’, he said.

Extending ‘‘maximum help’’ to the state to consolidate recent gains, Vajpayee again thanked the state’s people for showing their faith in democracy in the face of grave threats. The elections last October would, he said, go down in world history as the ‘‘finest victories for the ballot, in its battle against the bullet.’’

Introducing the Action Plan on Good Governance, a main item on the agenda, Vajpayee — laying emphasis on private enterprise — unveiled the elements as a comprehensive legal framework, defended and enforced by an impartial and competent judicial system, an accountable executive, coupled with a people-friendly bureaucracy and a strong civil society participation.

A visibly happy Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, the host CM, said he saw Kashmir as the ‘‘Davos of the East’’. In fact, he added, the state was home to a hundred ‘‘potential Davoses, Kyotos and Genevas.’’ And the progress India makes in its road to peace will determine how soon Kashmir could host the ‘‘first conference from neighbouring countries as well.’’

Also discussed at the meeting were the Sarkaria Commission’s recommendations on Centre-State relations, including the much-debated Article 356 pertaining to imposition of emergency in a state. As expected, there was opposition from various states, including West Bengal and Bihar. A final decision is likely to be taken tomorrow in the concluding session of the meet.