Pant briefs Cong. on J&K visit

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, JUNE 9. The Centre's interlocutor on Jammu and Kashmir, Mr. K. C. Pant, today began consultations with leaders of political parties by briefing Congress leaders on his recent visit to the State and talks with a cross-section of the people and groups there.

During a hour-long meeting with Congress Working Committee members, Mr. Pranab Mukherjee and Mr. Ghulam Nabi Azad, Mr. Pant told them of the divergent views expressed by the people during his recent six-day visit to the State.

Later speaking to reporters, he said a forward movement had to be seen in the interaction with various sections of people and that at present he was meeting leaders of political parties.

Referring to today's meeting, Mr Pant said there was no difference in perception since everyone had genuine concern for peace in the State.

Mr. Mukherjee said the overall impact of Mr. Pant's interaction was positive and as far as the political parties were concerned, they were for restoration of peace in the State.

The Congress president, Ms. Sonia Gandhi, had deputed Mr. Mukherjee and Mr. Azad to meet Mr. Pant after he requested all parties to take part in the discussion on Kashmir. Mr. Mukherjee said he would brief Ms. Gandhi on the meeting.

'Positive impact'

PTI reports:

To a question about the All-Party Hurriyat Conference's absence from the parleys during Mr. Pant's visit, he said, ``the entire issue has to be seen in totality. When you hold talks there will be some successes and some failures but when you see the issue in its entirety, the overall impact has been on the positive side.''

Mr. Pant, during the second phase of his interaction, would meet representatives from other parties including the BJP and the Left parties, official sources said.

Asked whether there was any deadline for him, the Centre's interlocutor said, ``though there is no deadline, I am of the opinion that peace has to be restored in the State as early as possible.''

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