Source: The Sangai Express
New Delhi, August 18:
As unrest continued in Manipur, the ruling UPA coalition at the Centre tonight discussed the situation in the State with the Government declaring that it was willing to hold talks with any person or political party to find a way for restoration of peace there.
Home Minister Shivraj Patil, who attended a meeting of UPA Coordination Committee, told the members that the Government was keeping a close watch on the situation not only in Manipur but in all other North Eastern States.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad told reporters after a three-hour meeting of the Committee that it discussed various issues including situation in Manipur and Jammu and Kashmir.
Patil said efforts were on to bring under control the situation in Manipur and improve it.
The Committee was told that there was no shortage of funds for the development of North Eastern States and as much as Rs 3.000 crores were lying in the non-lapsable pool for their development.
On Jammu and Kashmir, the Home Minister said the Government had decided to continue dialogue with all the groups and individuals having different shades of opinion in consultation with democratically elected representatives in the State.
Patil said that in the last few months, cross-border infiltration had declined and one of the reasons for this was the near completion of fencing along the Line of Control, Azad said.