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Onkar Singh in New Delhi
Arun Jaitley, Union government's interlocutor to discuss greater devolution of powers to Jammu and Kashmir, met the state's Public Works Department Minister G M Shah on Thursday in New Delhi.
The two agreed to meet again on August 9 to carry forward the dialogue.
The meeting that began at noon lasted for an hour and fifteen minutes. Confirming the meeting, Jaitley said the talks went well. "We had a prolonged discussion on the subject," he said.
Shah said the talks were free and frank.
"First we had a one-to-one and later he [Jaitley] was joined by a group of senior officers from the Union Home Ministry," Shah said.
"Jaitley listened to our point of view very attentively and also gave his opinion. I am very happy with the meeting...we would meet again on August 9," Shah said.
He said his government was happy that at least a beginning had been made on this issue. "It does not matter whether we call it a discussion on autonomy or devolution of powers. It makes no difference because both mean one and the same thing," Shah added.
It is not yet clear whether the next round of talks would take place in New Delhi or Srinagar.
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