NEW DELHI, 23 March 2007 — Giving no assurance to Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) patron Mufti Mohammed Sayeed on troop withdrawal from civilian areas in Jammu and Kashmir for the time being, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh yesterday, however, agreed to continue discussions on the issue.
After a 45-minute luncheon meeting with the prime minister, the PDP leader, who had made it clear that he cannot wait till summer for force withdrawal, skirted pointed queries from reporters on the issues raised by him.
“I informed the prime minister of issues like gradual withdrawal of forces, repeal of anti-terror laws and vacation of public property by security forces,” he said.A
On the eve of his meeting with the Manmohan, Sayeed on Wednesday had insisted that that he would not be satisfied with “window dressing” by the center on PDP’s demand for troop reduction.
“They have agreed to continue the conversation,” prime minister’s Media Adviser Sanjaya Baru said, after the meeting.
Terming the meeting a routine one, he said, “It was part of the prime minister’s exercise to meet his coalition allies.”
“As per this exercise, the prime minister today met Sayeed like a few days back he had met West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee.”
Asked whether PDP would pull out of the coalition with Congress Kashmir, Sayeed said there was no need to put the cart before the horse. He refused to take further questions.
