Major political parties in Jammu and Kashmir are eagerly awaiting the arrival of former Union secretary N N Vohra, the Centre's interlocutor to discuss the Kashmir problem.
Vohra is to arrive in Srinagar on Monday and would stay for almost a week before returning to Delhi. He would be staying at the Chashmeshahi Guest House and would receive visitors there.
Vohra is expected to meet ministers of the Jammu and Kashmir government and other elected representatives soon after his arrival in Srinagar.
"There is a difference between previous efforts to initiate talks and this one by Vohra. The latter has the benefit of dealing with a new democratically elected dispensation," Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed told newspersons in Srinagar.
Senior Congress leaders told rediff.com that they would certainly meet Vohra. "We are yet to decide on the date though," they said.
National Conference president Omar Abdullah said he had received phone calls from Vohra's office in the last couple of days and he would certainly be meeting him.
The former Union minister told rediff.com said he would discuss the stand his party would adopt (on ways to tackle the Kashmir problem) at a meeting of his senior leaders on Monday evening.
"We would insist on greater autonomy for J&K, as per the resolution adopted by the last assembly," he said.
All Party Hurriyat Conference chairman Abdul Gani Bhat said the separatist conglomerate has not received any invitation.
"We would decide on the future course of action only after we get the invitation," Bhat said on phone from Sopore.
Separatist leader Shabir Shah, who has shown an inclination to talk to Vohra, also said that he has so far not received any invitation from the latter.
"After Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee has announced that Vohra would come with invitations, I was expecting one. If an invitation is extended, I will accept and meet Vohra."
"But if Vohra wants people to come on their own, then he is expecting too much," he told rediff.com.
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