At the end of a day-long meeting today of political parties that discussed the recommendations made by working groups set up last year, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh announced the creation of a standing committee of the working groups to carry the process forward and an oversight mechanism to coordinate implementation of the recommendations. The standing committee will take stock of the implementation while the oversight mechanism will identify bottlenecks.

Some participants at the meeting referred to President Musharraf’s proposals on Kashmir prompting the Prime Minister to say that “some public statements in this regard emanating from Pakistan do not give the correct picture. I have said earlier we are working towards resolving all pending issues with Pakistan and the resolution will benefit the entire region”.

Today’s Roundtable took up reports submitted by four of the five working groups set up after the Second Roundtable in Srinagar last year. The fifth working group headed by Justice (retired) Sagir Ahmed, which deals with the contentious issue of Centre-state relations, is yet to complete its deliberations.

Inaugurating the Roundtable, Singh said the government was committed to minimising terrorism as well as human rights violations and “undue harassment” in the Valley. He said the deployment of security forces in Jammu and Kashmir needed to be related to the situation on the ground.

On human rights, he said the “government was totally committed to upholding the dignity of the individual and the protection of basic human rights in Jammu and Kashmir, as anywhere else in the country. We have again asked our security forces to ensure that their personnel carry out their difficult tasks in a humane manner”.

Pointing out that the vision for Jammu and Kashmir was embodied in “a broader vision for India and South Asia”, the Prime Minister said “a harmonious neighbourhood and a reconciliation with Pakistan” were important to realise the vision of an India and South Asia free from the fear of war, want and exploitation.

He called for resolving differences and overcoming the “trust deficit” that had cast a shadow on Indo-Pak relations.

Referring to the decision of separatist groups including the Hurriyat factions to stay away, the Prime Minister said, “I am impressed by the representative character of all the people taking part in this Roundtable. There are others who have decided not to join the dialogue. I hope they too join this process and contribute to the resolution of issues which affect the people of Jammu and Kashmir.”

Those who attended today’s Roundtable included Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil, Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, PDP leader Mufti Mohammed Sayeed, National Conference leaders Farooq Abdullah and Omar Abdullah, CPI (M) leader Yusuf Tarigami, Congress leader and Union minister Saifuddin Soz, state BJP chief Nirmal Singh and Panun Kashmir chairman Agnishekhar.

The Prime Minister referred to the working group on strengthening relations across the LoC which suggested measures to promote people-to-people contact across the LoC. “These are extremely relevant if we have to move towards the goal of making borders and lines irrelevant and just lines on a map,” Singh said.

He expressed the hope that the Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) across the LoC that had already been initiated and others that had been suggested by the M K Rasgotra working group would promote “free flow of ideas, people and goods”.

Suggestions made by the four working groups

• CBMs across segments of society
(headed by NCM Chairperson Mohammed Hamid Ansari)

Rehabilitate orphans of slain militants. Provide relief to victims of militancy with an order of priority for assistance. Rehabilitate persons who have given up militancy. Review and revoke laws like the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, maintain law and order through normal laws to the extent possible. Curb human rights violations and recognise rights of Kashmiri Pandits migrants to return to their place of original residence. Facilitate return of youth from across the LoC.

• Strengthening relations across the LoC
(headed by former Foreign Secretary M K Rasgotra)

Relax eligibility for travel across the LoC, do not restrict this to relatives only but include pilgrims, those who need medical aid and tourists traveling in groups. Open new routes like Jammu-Sialkote, Turtuk-Khapulu, Chhamb-Jorian to Mirpur, Gurez-Astroor-Gilgit. Promote trade and commerce by creating a Joint Consultative Machinery. Expand people to people contact.

• Economic development of Jammu and Kashmir
(headed by former RBI Governor C Rangarajan)

Have sub-plans within the state plan to reconstruct and maintain existing physical assets. Augment capacity of power sector and improve road connectivity. Implement National Rural Health Mission. Ensure balanced regional development of the Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh regions by judicious use of resources. Prepare a tourism vision document to exploit the state’s rich cultural heritage.

• Ensuring good governance
(headed by N C Saxena, former Member Secy of Planning Commission)

Institute zero tolerance to human rights violations. Appoint Chief Information Commissioner and information officers for effective implementation of RTI Act. Introduce e-governance. Simplify rules and procedures for departments with a public interface. Implement Panchayati Raj Act in letter.