Amarnath row: ‘Govt looking for give and take formula’

Shivraj Patil said the crisis related to ‘emotions’ and expressed confidence that issue would be resolved in a ‘very short time’.

As Jammu and Kashmir continues to be on the boil over the Amarnath land row, Home Minister Shivraj Patil has said the government was seeking a give and take formula that would satisfy both the regions of the state.

He said the crisis related to ‘emotions’ and expressed confidence that the issue would be resolved in a ‘very short time’.

“When matters are related to the emotions of the people, we should try to solve them as quickly as possible. I think we will be able to solve this matter in a very short time,” he said in an interview.

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When emphasised by the interviewer that the issue has to be resolved somehow and ‘there has to be some give and take’, the minister said, “that is exactly what we are trying to do. And we would like to accept a formula which is acceptable to both, people living in Jammu and the people in Kashmir.”

Asked whether he did not feel that the Centre and the state government had failed to anticipate events, he said he would not make ‘a judgement’ and ‘it is for the people to judge.’

When pointed out that Pakistani flags were hoisted in Kashmir and people were attacking each other, he said, “It’s in the emotions. It is in the philosophy that some people adopt.”