Contrary to expectations, Union home minister P Chidambaram on Wednesday did not make a direct offer to the separatists for a dialogue, but said the Central government was working to find a unique and acceptable solution to the Jammu and Kashmir problem.
Talking to mediapersons on the sidelines of the two-day All India Editors' Conference on social and infrastructural issues, Chidambaram said, "Jammu and Kashmir has a unique geography and a unique history. We are working on a unique and acceptable solution to the problem in Jammu and Kashmir."
He said the Centre was not afraid of talking to anyone, but there was no place for violence.
"We shall talk to all shades of opinion in the state, but we are working on a quiet diplomacy which would only be made public after the desired results were achieved," he said.
The home minister said the security situation in the state was much better and improved, but the 'infiltration from across the borders was posing a big problem to the security forces.'
"The infiltration is taking place from Pakistan and it has increased after the general elections. The infiltration is the cause for violence in the state and we have not been able to stop it completely. But there is a zero tolerance to the violence," he told mediapersons.
The home minister, however, said that the 'infiltration has come down due to the vigil of our security forces.'
"The Jammu and Kashmir police has to take up the frontal role in maintaining law and order in the state and addressing the security issues here," he reiterated.
"We will end militancy here," he affirmed. "Police and the Central Reserve Police Force are going through a retraining in handling civilian protests to bring down causalities."
Chidambaram said the problems of unemployment among the youth in the state would be addressed through the Prime Minister's reconstruction programme.
"We are investing in Jammu and Kashmir which will create more jobs in the state. The reconstruction programme and its completion will throw up more and more jobs in the state and address the problem of unemployment in the youth," Chidambaram added.
Text: Mukhtar Ahmad in Srinagar
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