Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil [Images] arrived in Jammu on Saturday with an all-party delegation and asked the Jammu and Kashmir [Images] administration to adopt a balanced approach while dealing with the current situation in the wake of violent protests over the Amarnath land transfer issue.

"We must see how to reduce the difficulties in Jammu and Kashmir and handle the situation with persuasion and goodwill," Patil said at a law and order review meeting with the state authorities and other Central agencies in Jammu on Saturday afternoon.

Patil and the 18-member all-party delegation arrived in Jammu in the morning to review the situation in the border state.

Patil, who was briefed about the present situation by Jammu Divisional Commissioner Sudhanshu Pandey, Inspector General of Police (Jammu zone) K Rajindra and Lt Gen Viney Sharma, general officer commanding, 9 Corps, asked the state authorities to adopt "a balanced approach while handling the current situation."

The minister also directed the administration to take steps to ensure that there is no shortage of medicine and other essential commodities in the area.

Patil said the Centre will provide all possible help to restore normalcy in Jammu and Kashmir.

While apprising the home minister, the police officers and General Sharma said that several steps were taken to deal with the sensitive situation with minimum use of force.