It was Singh who had sent National Security Advisor M K Narayanan to Jammu and Kashmir to assess the situation and report back. Narayanan paid a visit to the state and met various people including government officials and the Governor. The NSA today briefed the Cabinet about the deliberations he held in the state.

According to a top government functionary, Singh has been receiving reports that the Home Minister has not been able to handle the situation in a proper manner and has failed to bring the agitators to the negotiating table. A report, which Singh received from the state department, revealed that Patil during his visit to the state refused to meet the representatives of the trade bodies in the valley.

The trade and fruit grower associations in the valley protested and went on strike when Patil refused to meet them. The separatists, who linked it to the separation, hijacked the protest in the valley that was in fact counter to the violence that has been taking place in Jammu. Unhappy with the performance of Patil, the Prime Minister has reportedly asked for all files and documents relating to the Amarnath land transfer dispute.

The Home Secretary and Intelligence Bureau chief have been directed to report to the Prime Minister Office on all the matter relating to the ongoing agitation in the insurgency-hit state of Jammu and Kashmir. “He (Singh) wants to ensure that the violence is scaled down and agitators come forward for talks to resolve the issue and separatists don't take advantage of the situation,” said a senior PMO official.

A senior Cabinet Minister told this correspondent on the condition of anonymity that Patil came under attack from the alliance partners, who charged him of failing to address to the problem. In the meeting of the Union Cabinet that held here on Thursday, the leaders of UPA constituents like Lalu Yadav of RJD and Ramvilas Paswan stressed that Prime Minister should intervene in the matter immediately and take charge.

After assuring the allies, Singh sought the assistance of External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee in thematter. The two leaders, the sources said, also held separate meeting later and discuss the issue in details. Mukherjee is learnt to have spoken to the Leader of Opposition L K Advani over telephone and sought his help to defuse the tension that has gripped the Jammu region for over a month now. He also held talk with the state Governor N N Vohra, who is also the chief trustee of the Shri Amarnath Shrine Yatra Board and took stock of the current situation. (EON)