The much-awaited talks between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and the separatist outfits in Jammu and Kashmir took place on Tuesday. Earlier on Monday, the Prime Minister had pledged his government’s commitment to implement the recommendations of the five working groups he had formed after three round table conferences held in 2006 and 2007.
“We got many view points (from these round table conferences) and we will act on the recommendations of the working groups step by step,” he said. In recognition of its contribution and in view of its importance to the development of the state, he had also promised the Central government will provide a special grant of Rs 100 crore to the Sher-i-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST).
While addressing a meeting of senior government functionaries convened to review development activities in the state here on Tuesday, Dr Singh reiterated “Central government will do all to support the state in its development process.”
He told chief minister Omar Abdullah, “It is heartening to note that the state government has gone in for tariff-based bids even for hydro projects. Earlier the chief minister himself made a comprehensive power point presentation to the Prime Minister covering all key sectors. He highlighted critical gaps in infrastructure, emerging challenge in the delivery of public service and roadmap for putting in place unprecedented reforms in the power and urban development sectors. The meeting was attended by a battery of central and state ministers and other functionaries. Dr Singh assured to look into a suitable mechanism through dialogue process to financially support the state.