If the healing touch in the troubled Kashmir was all about noble gestures, nobody would find the Centre wanting.
If the healing touch in the troubled Kashmir was all about noble gestures, nobody would find the Centre wanting. The Valley is basking in New Delhi’s attention for some time now, and if the VIP visits are any indicator, the UPA is sure walking its talk on engaging the region with urgency.
In what is being considered unusual, three high profile Union ministers have visited the region in a span of two days. They have interacted with the state government and chalked out plans to facilitate development, besides making soothing utterances in public.
They include Union home minister P Chidambaram, information and broadcasting minister Ambika Soni, and corporate and minority affairs minister Salman Khursheed. Prime minister Manmohan Singh is slated to drop in later this month.
After the central ministers, top bureaucrats will also be visiting the state for follow up action. All secretaries of the union government have been instructed to that effect. Every month, one secretary will visit the state for discussions with state officials. The cabinet secretary recently visited Srinagar and will be back in February again. “The ministers are being encouraged to visit the Valley,” Chidambaram said.
The new-found bonhomie, of course, follows the equation that the power combo from the state—Union minister Farooq Abdullah and chief minister Omar Abdullah—share with the UPA top leadership. While appreciating the financial grants, they have been insisting on something more: Restrain in speech from New Delhi leaders, particularly on security matters.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}