Coffin On Wheels?

Nonetheless, the state government has decided to celebrate April 7 as a mega event. The 30 Muzaffarabad-bound passengers will be taken in two 15-seater state government-owned buses to be flagged off by Manmohan Singh at the sprawling Sher-e-Kashmir Cricket Stadium in Srinagar. Sonia Gandhi will also be present. On the same day, an equal number of passengers from Muzaffarabad will also be received here. A civic reception has been organised at Salamabad, the first township on the Indian side.

If all goes well, there will be further goodwill visits by prominent citizens and politicians from both sides. Sources say the state government will be taking leaders of mainstream

political parties of J&K on the bus. Even Hurriyat leaders like Mirwaiz Umer Farooq, who supports the reopening of the link, is slated to ride on it. Many in Srinagar are keeping their fingers crossed. The success of the bus diplomacy, militants permitting, will go a long way in building bridges.