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Mufti raises coordination issues with Sonia

By Onkar Singh in New Delhi
March 26, 2007 19:08 IST

Mufti Mohammed Sayeed, former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir, met Congress president Sonia Gandhi and raised issues relating to coordination between the Congress party and the People's Democratic Party in the state.

The two parties in alliance with smaller parties and some independents had reached a power sharing agreement in 2002 when the people gave a split verdict in the Assembly polls.

Sayeed had a 25-minute-meeting with Sonia.

Talking to newsmen after the meeting outside 10 Janpath, Sayeed said that he was hopeful that the Prime Minister's Office would announce its decision on troop reduction in a day or two.

"You will see what happens. I am going to be in Delhi," he said with a smile when asked if was hopeful of acceptance of his main demand of troop withdrawal.

He said his party would take a decision on attending the Cabinet meeting called by Gulam Nabi Azad, chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir, on March 29 after the PMO announces its decision on the main demand.

"I raised the issues of coordination with Sonia. When we talk about the peace initiative or carrying the state forward, it means better coordination between Congress and PDP. Sonia assured me that she would ensure smooth coordination between the two parties. I am satisfied with the meeting," Sayeed said.

Sayeed said that he was asking for gradual troop reduction as it would help the peace process. He emphasised that the government should ensure that human rights violations are brought down to a minimum and cases of mistaken killings should come down.

"I have had two meetings with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and one with the National Security Advisor M K Narayanan. I am satisfied with my meetings with Soniaji," he said.

Onkar Singh in New Delhi

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