JOIN USThe assurance came during Abdullah’s meetings with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Home Minister P Chidambaram and Congress President Sonia Gandhi, official sources said.
Abdullah briefed the prime minister about the latest situation in the state and also the steps taken by his government to bring the situation under control. Singh, in turn, assured him that the Centre would provide all help to his government.
Earlier, Abdullah had a detailed meeting with Chidambaram on the recent situation in the state, during which he informed the latter about the steps taken by his government to restore normalcy in the valley. Abdullah later met Sonia Gandhi in the presence of Defence Minister A K Antony.
Gandhi told Abdullah that the Congress was fully behind his leadership of the National Conference-Congress coalition government, sources said.Later, briefing reporters, Abdullah said his government would take steps to stem the flow of foreign funds to the separatist elements in the state.
“I have discussed with the Home Minister on how to give better equipment to paramilitary forces and the Jammu and Kashmir Police so that they can control the crowd in better ways to ensure that no incident takes place and no one dies,’’ Abdullah said.
Asked about the Opposition allegation that he had no control over the situation, Abdullah said: “I have not lost control over the government. Had I lost control, the situation would have been worst. It is obvious that the Opposition wanted that, so that they can take advantage of it.’’