NC chief to build pressure with opposition leaders in Delhi
NL Correspondent
Jammu Tawi/New Delhi, July 29
Reacting to Mufti's tweet, Farooq Abdullah told news agency ANI that he is quite positive about this and want to call an all-party meeting this week to resolve the problem.
Immediately after PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti on Monday sought help from her rival party National Conference's patriarch Farooq Abdullah to present a united front against the Centre's rumoured plans to end Article 35A, the latter said that they were calling an all-party meeting within two or three days to discuss the issue.
Earlier, the People's Democratic Party chief and former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir Mehbooba Mufti had requested National Conference president Dr Farooq Abdullah to present a united front against the rumoured plan of the centre of dismissing Article 35A.
Mehbooba Mufti wrote in her twitter account that recent developments on 35A have caused a sense of panic among the people of Jammu and Kashmir. She also requested Jammu and Kashmir National Conference leader Dr Farooq Abdullah to organise an all-party meeting. She had requested him to forge a united front in order to stand against the rumoured plan of the centre of ending Article 35A.
However, article 35A allows special status to the state of Jammu and Kashmir and provides special rights and privileges to the people of the state. There have been rumours that Narendra Modi government are planning to abolish the Article 35A before August 15. Reports said the government is set to send 100000 troops to some of the sensitive zones in the state of Jammu and Kashmir for the security of the state before making the news public.
The former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir added, if the central government abrogate article 35A, then they will have to go back to 1947 and abrogate every article of Indian constitution.
“I am presently in Delhi and am in touch with other leaders and we will accordingly decide about the date (for calling all-party meeting),” Abdullah told a news agency from New Delhi when asked to react over Mehbooba's statement.
“There is panic (in Kashmir) as one lakh soldiers have been called which is not a joke. On one hand government claims situation is normal, yatra is going on smoothly and tourists are coming while on the other they are deploying more forces and have kept masjids under scrutiny,” the NC chief said.
While taking a jibe at Center's decision to keep the management committees of the majsids under watch, he told, “They (government) are not keeping an eye on gurdwaras, temples or churches, but why masjids are being singled out. This is a serious issue as masjids are for prayers. This is a serious issue and that is why we are calling the meeting.”
Asked to comment on the speculations regarding revocation of Article 35A and Article 370, he said, “They (Center) say one thing and do other. We don't trust them (New Delhi). We have to discuss it and remain ready to face it.”
Sources said Abdullah along with two other NC MPs – Mohammad Akbar Lone and Hasnain Masoodi – are scheduled to meet opposition leaders in New Delhi on Tuesday. “The NC delegation is also likely to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi, where they will brief him about the situation which could emerge if Article 35A is revoked,” they said.
Troops movement not connected to anything unusual: Advisor
Srinagar, July 29
Governor's advisor on Home affairs K Vijay Kumar on Monday rejected the rumours that troop movement in Kashmir was connected to any pending announcement.
Talking to reporters on the side lines of a function, he termed the various viral government orders in the valley related to troops and other info as rumour mongering. “If somebody is causing panic or rumour on social media, then I shouldn't be countering it as it won't be proper. But all I am trying to say is what is the sources of this rumour. Somebody saying that extra security forces are coming.”
“I have already clarified that it is a deliberate and calculated response to the security grid which is available here. There was an addition or reduction of the security grid due to our focus on Amarnath yatra. Therefore, the need arose to requisition little more forces. It is a part of the plan which is in the pipeline,” Kumar said.
“There are so many things happening on social media. So for us to react to everything it will give strength to these people (rumour mongers),” he added.
