Kashmir unrest:

India seeks solution

INDIA: India’s leading political parties will come together Wednesday to try to forge a consensus on how to defuse escalating tension in Kashmir after the worst violence in three months of protests.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who admitted last week that he was “groping” for a response, will chair the all-party meeting at his residence, with the government under pressure to show leadership in the worsening crisis.

One measure under consideration is the partial withdrawal of a tough military law in the region, which grants the armed forces immunity and is seen as fuelling a sense of injustice for Kashmiris.

The Cabinet discussed this at a meeting on Monday, but decided against taking a decision on a day that saw the worst violence since mass street protests began in June.

Seventeen protesters were killed in police shootings and one police officer died in mob violence.

“Ultimately we thought that before we take a final decision, we should take into confidence all major political parties,” Defence Minister A.K. Antony told reporters on Tuesday. “It is better to involve everybody.”

Politically, the ruling Congress party is hemmed in by the right-wing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) main opposition group, which sees any concession to autonomy-seeking Kashmiri separatists as a betrayal of the nation.

“Kashmir is in turmoil due to wrong policies of the state and the centre and the need is to have more forces but the Congress is looking to reduce the number of security personnel” in Kashmir, BJP spokesman Shahnawaz Hussain said.

“The BJP wants total peace in Kashmir prior to any talks and it is of the opinion that unless this happens any form of talks is useless.”

NEW DELHI, Wednesday, AFP