PDP leader and former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti on Monday urged her staunch political rival and National Conference chief Farooq Abdullah to immediately convene an all-party meeting to discuss the current situation in Kashmir.
Her request for the meeting was in view of the anxiety prevailing in the valley due to the centre rushing 10,000 additional paramilitary personnel there.
In a tweet, Mehbooba said: “In light of recent developments that have caused a sense of panic amongst people in J&K, I’ve requested Dr Farooq Abdullah sahab to convene an all party meeting. Need of the hour is to come together & forge a united response. We the people of Kashmir need to stand up as one”.
In light of recent developments that have caused a sense of panic amongst people in J&K, I’ve requested Dr Farooq Abdullah sahab to convene an all party meeting. Need of the hour is to come together & forge a united response. We the people of Kashmir need to stand up as one
— Mehbooba Mufti (@MehboobaMufti) July 29, 2019
When contacted on phone, Farooq told The Statesman from Delhi that he would convene the meeting as the uncertain situation in the valley needs to be addressed by all political parties. Such a situation was not in the interest of the state.
NC MP’s have given a notice to raise the current situation in Kashmir in the Lok Sabha and have also sought an appointment with PM Narendra Modi.
Former chief minister, Omar Abdullah, responded to Mehbooba’s tweet by saying: “wait before calling senior leaders from other parties in J&K to discuss the current situation it’s important to try to understand from the Central Govt about their intentions for the state & also how they see the situation at the moment. This is what @JKNC_ is focused on”.
Before calling senior leaders from other parties in J&K to discuss the current situation it’s important to try to understand from the Central Govt about their intentions for the state & also how they see the situation at the moment. This is what @JKNC_ is focused on. https://t.co/dDW8G5fMV8
— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) July 29, 2019
Mehbooba said: “Need of the hour is to come together and forge a united response. We the people of Kashmir need to stand up as one.”
The Centre’s decision to deploy an additional troops might make the political parties like PDP and NC sit together but both parties were trying to gain maximum political mileage out of the situation.
Mehbooba, who had lost political ground in the valley after aligning with the BJP, was trying to regain on the Kashmir issue. Meanwhile, Governor’s advisor K Vijay Kumar told media persons in Srinagar that the additional forces have been brought to strengthen the security grid and not for any other purpose.