Srinagar May 23: Annual Amarnath Yatra, interlocutors report and overall security remained main focus of a high-level security review meeting held here Thursday. The meeting was co-chaired by Union Home Minister P Chidambaram and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.
The meeting was held at Nehru Guest House, soon after Chidambaram arrived here after visiting Kargil area of Ladakh region. From Srinagar International Airport, Home Minister drove straightway to Nehru Guest House in a cavalcade of at least 40 vehicles. Chidambaram was accompanied by Union Minister of State for Home, Dr Jatinder Singh.
Union Home Minister, according to a senior police officer was appraised about the prevailing security situation in the valley and along the borders. “He was told that the graph of militancy is at its lowest ebb,” the police officer said adding that statistical data about the steep decline in militancy was also provided by the state government officials. “He was briefed about the prevailing security scenario at Line of Control as well,” he said.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah according to the police officer also told Chidambaram to make the report of the three interlocutors’ public.
The meeting according the police officer deliberated on the issue of Amarnath Yatra and Chidambaram was apprised about the proposed security measures undertaken by J&K government in this regard.
The police officer said there was, however, no discussion on AFSPA at the meeting. “Amarnath Yatra and security issues in general were discussed during the meeting and nothing other than that,” he said.
Besides Union Home Minister, Union MoS Home, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister, Tara Chand, Minister of State for Home, Nasir Aslam Wani, Chief Secretary, Madhav Lal, Director General of Police, Kuldeep Khoda, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, B B Vyas, Principal Secretary, Home, B R Sharma, IGP Kashmir SM Sahai, IGP CRPF, SSP Srinagar Syed Aashiq Hussain Bukhari and other senior officers of Central and State governments attended the meeting.
Earlier, Union Home Minister visited Kargil and assured the people that Central government would take all necessary steps to accommodate development needs of Jammu and Kashmir, including twin districts of Leh and Kargil in Ladakh region.
While addressing the function held in connection with “Jashn-e-Kashmir”, a mega project to impart training to youth of Jammu and Kashmir in the folk culture and art of the state,  Chidambaram said that work on Zojila tunnel connecting Kargil and Drass with Kashmir would be started soon, and a proposal was under active consideration to start commercial air services to Kargil. He also said that Zanskar would also be connected with Leh and Kargil by helicopter service.
Speaking at the function, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah highlighted the cultural heritage of the state. He underlined the need to make young generation aware of the rich ethos, history, amity in diversity and pluralistic characteristic prevailing in the state.
Omar stressed on taking all measures to preserve the novelty of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh’s cultural heritage and said steps aimed at nurturing and popularizing it was need of the hour.
The Chief Minister said the state government would be equal partner in the Centre’s efforts in popularizing Jammu and Kashmir’s culture, art and folk in the country. On Zojila tunnel, Omar underlined its significance for opening up of Ladakh area for holistic development, economic welfare and employment creation besides making the area easy accessible.
He demanded early launch of work for construction of the tunnel by the Centre along with installation of Srinagar-Leh transmission line and four-laning of the highway. “These are projects of far-reaching impact on our economy and welfare,”
Omar said. He referred to the rich potential of Ladakh for harnessing wind and solar energy and urged the Union government to help both in the fields of generation and gridding of the energy.
The function was also attended among others by minister of State for Home Jitender Singh and Jammu and Kashmir Culture and Tourism minister Rigzin Jora.

Lastupdate on : Wed, 23 May 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Wed, 23 May 2012 18:30:00 GMT
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