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| Agenda or no agenda, cabinet to meet every Tuesday | | | Jammu, July 29 (KIP): The state cabinet will be meeting every Tuesday even if there is no agenda to be discussed.
Official sources said that it has been decided to hold the cabinet meetings once very week.
Sources said that it has been also decided that in case it was a public holiday on any Tuesday the cabinet will meet on the next day so that there is no break in the continuity of holding regular cabinet sessions.
According to the sources, this decision has been taken to promote greater interaction among the members of the state cabinet so that spot decisions were taken whenever some problem arose in the state. Since June 11, when the valley has been gripped by severe turmoil, the members of the cabinet have not been seen taking decisions together because of their engagements. Now each cabinet Minister has been asked to be present in the summer capital on Tuesdays so that they attend the cabinet meet. It was learnt that this step was being taken to remove an impression that has gone round indicating that there were differences among the members of the state cabinet and whatever major policy decisions were being taken did not carry the seal of the cabinet. The Chief Minister wants to remove this impression which the Government sources said was not based on reality.
Another decision taken relates to the future of those boys who had been arrested charge of pelting stones on the police. Official sources said that after reviewing cases of each stone pelter they would be released one by one after securing firm assurance from their parents on their good conduct in future. During its upcoming meetings the cabinet will examine the proposal on rehabilitation of former militants and of kins of those killed in police firing. In addition to this the cabinet may review the detention of sever el political leaders, especially those belonging to the separatist camp.
These steps were being taken to encourage separatists to accept invitation for the resumption of talks with Delhi. Official sources said that Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah, will take up with the central Government, especially with the Union Home Minister and the defence Minister, the need for repealing the AFSPA and for withdrawing troops from within some civilian areas.
In case the Chief Minister succeeded in persuading the centre to coede his demands it would improve the atmosphere and the situation in the Kashmir valley which may pave the way for a fresh round of talks between the centre and the separatists. Already chairman APHC, Molvi Umar Farooq has stated that he would not accept talks unless all he political leaders, arrested, were released, AFSPA was repealed, troops were withdrawn. |
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