Srinagar: Amidst high security and a bandh called by separatist organisations, the eighth Inter-State Council meeting began in Srinagar on August 27, with Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee chairing it.

Attended by Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani, Law Minister Arun Jaitley and a dozen Chief Ministers and state ministers, the meeting will discuss the Sarkaria Commission recommendations relating to administrative relations, emergency provisions like imposition of President's Rule in states and deployment of Central Armed Forces in states.

The two-day meeting, first to be held outside the Union Capital, will also discuss issues of good governance, contract labour and appointment on which the Centre is trying to evolve a consensus.

Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, Andhra Pradesh CM Chandra Babu Naidu, Uttaranchal CM N D Tiwari and Punjab CM Amarinder Singh are among those attending the meeting.

Defence Minister George Fernandes, Labour Minister Sahib Singh Verma and representatives from other states and union territories are also attending.

Ahead of Prime Minister's arrival in Srinagar, militants exploded an improvised explosive device (IED) in a dilapidated house in an area eight kilometres away from the Sher-e-Kashmir International Convention Centre, but there were no casualties.

The city also witnessed a partial bandh in response to a call by militant and separatists including Hurriyat Conference in protest against the PM's visit and Centre's Kashmir policy.

PTI