PM steps in to resolve Amarnath row, to meet top leaders today

As violence continues unabated in Jammu as well as in Kashmir valley, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is to chair a meeting of top political leaders across the board in the Capital today to discuss measures to calm the situation in the state and seek a consensus on how to end the impasse. The Centre decided to rope in all the parties to find a consensus to the problem that emerged over the land allocation to Sri Amarnath Shrine Board, a body overlooking the conduct of pilgrimage to the Holy cave shrine. Top leaders of all political parties have been invited to the meeting where the Centre will brief them about the steps being taken by the government and would seek their cooperation in maintaining communal harmony in the state as well as in the country. Apart from national political parties, all regional parties, including National Conference and People's Democratic Party, have been invited to the meeting. The violence in Jammu and Kashmir, which threatens to polarise the state along religious line, is being constantly reviewed by the Union Home Ministry.