Chidambaram to pay obeisance at Vaishno Devi

Jammu, April 6 (IANS) Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram will pay obeisance at one of the most revered Hindu shrines, Vaishno Devi in Jammu and Kashmir, when he makes a day-long visit to Jammu to April 10 review the security situation.

Official sources said that the home minister, who is visiting the state after a gap of almost nine months, will be visiting the shrine to pay obeisance.

During his day-long stay at Jammu, he is also expected to meet Jammu and Kashmir Governor N.N. Vohra and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to study the 'emerging contours of security scenario in Jammu and Kashmir', which has been battling Pakistan-sponsored terrorism for the past two decades.

The home minister is also expected to review the situation with regard to the coming summer, the growing need of instilling confidence among the locals and tourists about the safety of the state as a tourist destination.

While there is speculation that the home minister would also take a call on removing the contentious Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) and dismantling of more bunkers and reducing the footprint of the security forces, sources said that it was not very clear as to what would be discussed and what would not.

'The home minister has his own agenda on the issues concerning all the three regions of the state,' a top official told IANS.