Jammu talks put off again

SRINAGAR: The fourth round of talks between Shri Amarnath Sangharsh Samiti (SASS) and the government panel has been put off for the second time in the last three days.

SASS spokesman Narendra Singh said the government has informed the organization that talks could not be held on Friday as scheduled because Dr SS Bloeria, who heads four-member panel set up by governor NN Vohra, was indisposed.

“We have been informed through divisional commissioner Jammu that the talks would not be possible due to Bloeria’s illness. He had a fall in his house and is not in a position to meet people,” he said. “Bloeria has been advised by doctors to rest for another day. Talks with the SASS will now take place on August 30,” an official spokesman said.
This is the second time that the talks have been postponed.

The SASS and the government held three rounds of talks last week to break the impasse on the land issue. The SASS submitted the final draft to the government panel after which they sought time before finalising the modalities.

The SASS meanwhile is holding a general council meeting on Saturday to chalk out the future course of action. “We are also holding a mega rally on Sunday in which more than two lakh people are expected,” Singh said.

The row started after the government diverted 39.88 hectares of forest land to the shrine board, leading to protests by separatists and mainstream parties in Kashmir.
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