Shah reviews security, Cabinet to meet today

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 4

Amid the uncertainty over how events would unfold in Jammu and Kashmir, Union Home Minister Amit Shah today held a meeting with top security officials to review the situation there even as the Union Cabinet decided to hold a meeting here tomorrow morning.

The nature of discussions that took place remained out of public domain as officials were tight-lipped. Attending the deliberations were National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, Home Secretary and Intelligence chiefs. It came in the backdrop of an unusual order on Friday last by the state administration  directing tourists and pilgrims on various yatras to return to their homes immediately.

With the government making efforts to augment transportation of huge numbers from the Valley and elsewhere to outside the state, a sense of panic gripped the state even as security is being beefed up with additional reinforcements being sent  to J&K.

The Congress, the principal party in the Opposition too demanding that leaders across the aisle be taken into confidence, the issue is bound to find resonance in Parliament tomorrow.Irrespective of the Opposition pressure, the state will figure in the Rajya Sabha tomorrow  as the Home Minister is slated to move the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Second Amendment) Bill, providing for 10 per cent reservation to economically weaker sections.  The Union Cabinet has been summoned for a meeting at 9.30 am, ahead of the Parliament session, leading to speculation that the government was moving in with some decisions  that could have a bearing on Jammu and Kashmir.