Kashmir crisis: Omar asks PDP to attend Monday’s all-party meet
By ANISaturday, July 10, 2010
SRINAGAR - Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Saturday made a fresh appeal to the main opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to attend the all-party meet on Monday to discuss the present situation in the valley.
There are reports that Abdullah has written a letter to PDP President Mehbooba Mufti requesting her to attend the meeting on Monday.
“We are on the crossroads of a crucial phase in Kashmir and its time for all of us to join hands and work together to pave the way forward irrespective of our political beliefs. Let us all come together to do a comprehensive analysis of the situation and jointly lay a road map for a better tomorrow for our people,” said Abdullah in his letter to the PDP President.
Abdullah said there was no time to discuss the deployment of army with all political parties, adding that the decision of not joining the deliberations on Monday was ‘unfortunate and painful’.
“I am writing to you to reiterate once again my request to your party to join the deliberations of the All-Party Meet. I will be personally grateful if you kindly reconsider your decision and participate in the deliberations. This participation of yours will help us to evolve a detailed all-inclusive agenda for the future,” he added in his letter.
Abdullah today said that he has no intention of demitting office because of the recent developments in the state.
Rejecting suggestions that his government or the state security forces had lost control over the law and order situation prevailing in the state, Abdullah said: “I will not resign. I, and neither my government, have not lost control. The army has been deployed as an aid to the civil administration. The army has been called in for peace”
He further said: “I promise the people that peace will return. I do not contemplate resigning.”
He also described the opposition People’s Democratic Party’s decision not to participate in Monday’s all-party talks to resolve the Kashmir crisis as unfortunate and ill timed.
Earlier in the day, Omar’s father and Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Farooq Abdullah met Home Minister P Chidambaram to assess and discuss steps being taken by the Centre and state governments to restore normalcy in Jammu and Kashmir.
According to sources, an AICC delegation is likely to visit the Kashmir Valley ahead of Monday’s all-party meeting.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office, Prithviraj Chavan, and senior leader and old Kashmir hand Makhan Lal Fotedar, among others, will be part of the team, sources said.
Meanwhile, curfew has been re-imposed in the Maisuma area of Srinagar and three other districts - Anantnag, Pulwama, and Kakpora following clashes between protesters and security forces.
Curfew was relaxed on Friday to allow people to celebrate the holy Muslim festival of Shab-e-Meraj.
Mehbooba Mufti had earlier said her party would boycott Monday’s meeting.
“Omar government has lost all credibility. We should have been consulted on the decision to deploy the army, she added.
The army was deployed in Srinagar on Tuesday night following violent protests, which left three persons dead and over 70 injured.
Seventeen columns conducted flag marches on Wednesday, following widespread violence in the Batmaloo and Maisuma localities.
The decision to deploy the Army was taken after Omar Abdullah made a formal request to the Central Government for help in maintaining law and order in Srinagar.
The situation in the valley has been tense over the past few weeks due to repeated clashes between protestors and security forces. (ANI)
