Azad meets PM, opposes troops withdrawal in Valley

Even as Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has launched mediatory efforts to keep the Congress party's alliance with PDP (Peoples' Democratic Party) in Jammu and Kashmir intact, Chief Minister Ghulam

Nabi Azad met him here this morning.

Emerging out of the meeting, Azad said he remained opposed to the idea of troops withdrawal "" a demand of the PDP that had been rejected by even the prime minister. "As the state chief minister and home minister, I will never recommend any reduction of troops or demilitarisation. I have to look after my people," he remarked.

Apparently in no mood to give in on the PDP's populist demand on troops withdrawal, Azad remarked, "issues related to security of the country should never be used as a political weapon."

As tension between the ruling partners climaxed, with PDP giving ample hints that it was likely to withdraw support to the Azad government on March 25, the prime minister had called Azad and PDP leader Mufti Mohammad Sayeed to Delhi to discuss the matter.

Sources said Sayeed was coming to meet the prime minister two days later.

Analysts feel Singh's intervention could save the coalition government as it could give a decent way out for the PDP leaders "" Mehbooba and Mufti Sayeed, who are facing opposition from within their party on the issue.

The PDP and the Congress have remained in power for nearly four-and-a-half years and the coalition has nearly one-and-a-half years to go.

From the day one, the partners had no love lost for each other but the alliance continued with the intervention from the prime minister and sometimes by the UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi herself.

Azad and the Muftis have not been even on talking terms of late as the PDP is boycotting even the Cabinet meetings.

Azad has put all decisions taken by the PDP ministers on the hold.