The nation’s political establishment, split right down the middle after a bitter trust vote, showed a rare unanimity today in its response to the protests in Jammu and Kashmir. In a joint appeal for peace and normalcy, as many as 36 political parties — the two main formations UPA and NDA and almost every regional party represented in Parliament — underlined that “communalisation of the situation should be prevented at all cost as this would adversely impact on the secular fabric of the nation.”

Aware that the situation could dangerously spin out of control, the parties, at a meeting called by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, also called for an immediate dialogue with the protesters in Jammu that would help “suspend” the agitation.

Sources said the dialogue process could start as early as tomorrow or the day after. Governor N N Vohra is understood to have been asked to form a committee of about 4-5 members to talk to the Amarnath Sangharsh Samiti that has been spearheading the protests. An all-party delegation is also scheduled to visit Jammu in the next couple of days, most probably tomorrow, and a special aircraft is being readied for the purpose, sources said.

“The Government agreed that all required and necessary facilities for the Amarnath pilgrims would be provided...The all-party meeting suggested immediately initiating the process of dialogue that would facilitate the suspension of the agitation and its peaceful resolutions.”

Crucially, the resolution adopted at the four-hour meeting had the full backing of the Opposition BJP, which has been supporting the agitation in Jammu against the decision of the state government to revoke its earlier order allotting 40 hectares to the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board for creating temporary shelters for pilgrims.

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