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Mufti to meet PM today

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI DEC. 1. The Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Mufti Muhammad Sayeed, arrived here today. He will meet the Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, and the Deputy Prime Minister, L.K. Advani, tomorrow.

This is Mr. Sayeed's first visit to the capital, after assuming office, and it comes at a time when terrorists have stepped up their attacks in the State. The visit is also significance in the backdrop of the concerns being voiced by the Centre over the Mufti's policy of releasing certain detainees jailed by the previous Government.

The Mufti appears to keen on bridging the chasm that seems to be developing between the Centre and the State. He made it clear that the problem in the border State could only be tackled jointly, by the Centre and the State. "There is complete understanding with the Prime Minister and the Home Minister.''

The Mufti will call on the Congress president, Sonia Gandhi, and leaders of Left parties. He expressed his satisfaction with the functioning of the Congress-PDP Government, "There is complete understanding with the Congress, Left parties and the Panthers Party.''

His policy of releasing political activists has been frowned upon by the Centre. This has also come under increasing attack from BJP and Sangh Parivar hardliners. With Parliament in session and the campaign for Gujarat elections in top gear, the issue has threatened to snow ball into a big political controversy.

In their campaign speeches in Gujarat, the BJP and its supporters have been trying to embarrass the Mufti's coalition partner, the Congress, as being soft on terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir.

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