The Congress may have ruled out demilitarisation in Kashmir for the time being, but PDP patron Mufti Mohammed Sayeed, who arrived in Delhi today, made it clear that the government had to make a beginning in this direction.Sayeed, who is expected to meet PM Manmohan Singh tomorrow, said his party’s demand for a reduction of troops was a “confidence-building measure”. But, the PDP leader said he could not wait till summer for a decision and added that his party was keen that “some modalities” be worked out immediately.Hours after the statement, Mufti attended a dinner for partners of the UPA coalition hosted by the PM at his residence. He had been sending feelers for attending the dinner, traditionally a gathering for chiefs of the UPA partners, through some politicians and others as it would give him an opportunity to meet the entire top brass of the Congress, including president Sonia Gandhi and External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee, sources said.Responding to the PDP’s demands, the PM had ruled out reduction in troops at the moment, saying the matter could be examined in the summer. He had, however, invited the Mufti for talks on the issue.While Congress leaders have expressed confidence that withdrawal of support by the PDP would not bring down the government, the PDP leadership has been circumspect with Mufti saying: “ I would not like to open my cards like this”.The meeting with the PM, originally expected today, was put off by a day with the senior PDP leader discussing the issue with party colleagues. Union Water Resources Minister Saifuddin Soz is learnt to be in touch with the PDP, trying to work out a solution acceptable to both parties.The party is also seeking a repeal of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act and the Disturbed Areas Act, saying the recent fake killings were proof that these laws gave the armed forces a licence to kill. PDP also wants the armed forces to vacate civilian properties occupied during anti-militancy operations.The PDP’s political affairs committee will meet in Srinagar on Sunday to decide on its next step vis-à-vis its coalition with the Congress. CM Ghulam Nabi Azad, who returned to Srinagar today, has met the PM and senior Congress leaders to convey his strong opposition to any move to cut troops maintaining that the fight against militancy was at a crucial stage.
