Rajnath Singh asks Sayeed for land for Kashmiri Pandits

Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday asked Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed to provide land for composite townships for Kashmiri Pandits in the state, an official release said.

Sayeed, who had called on the home minister here, assured him that the state government will acquire and provide land at the earliest for composite townships in the Kashmir Valley, it said.

Issues related to the Home Guards, remuneration for Special Police Officers (SPOs), ex-gratia relief for damage and casualty during cross-border firing and matters of security related expenditure were also discussed during this meet.

"...the central government would ensure that all possible assistance is provided to utilise the full potential of the alliance (of the BJP and the PDP) both -- in the area of security and welfare of the people," Singh said.

The home minister also informed the chief minister that the proposal of the state government for enhanced remuneration to SPOs is being pursued by his ministry.

The issue of raising the Indian Reserve Battalions for the state and effective utilisation of state police was also discussed in the meeting.

The meet was also attended by the senior officers of the ministry of home affairs and Jammu and Kashmir government.