J&K Opposition parties to meet PM Modi today

As curfew and violence continues unabated in the Kashmir Valley, a delegation of Opposition parties from Jammu and Kashm-ir, led by former state chief minister Omar Abdullah, will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday.

The delegation of the state leaders had met President Pranab Mukherjee, besides Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi.

Mr Abdullah, while speaking to reporters, sought sincere efforts on the parts of the Central government to find a political solution to the ongoing agitation in the state, which has claimed 64 lives so far.

The delegation called upon Mr Gandhi during the meeting on Sunday, which was also attended by senior Congress leaders, to make efforts at the national level for finding a “political rather than administrative” solution to the current spell of unrest. Mr Abdullah claimed that the ongoing agitation is the longest in recent memory in the aftermath of the killing of militant commander Burhan Wani by the security forces on July 8. Mr Abdullah, who is the chief of the National Conference, slammed the PDP-BJP government in the state for “creating disaffection” in the Valley. He said that the ruling alliance in the state has created disaffection among the youth by trying to find an administrative solution to end the current spiral of violence.

CPI(M) MLA M.Y. Tarigami, who was part of the delegation, told Mr Gandhi that the ongoing stir in the Kashmir Valley should be considered a national problem and a consensus be built among political parties for evolving a political approach to deal with the situation. “The present crisis should not be looked through the prism of another round of violence, but needs a closer look keeping in mind the scope and implication of this serious crisis,” Mr Tarigami said.

State unit Congress chief G.A. Mir said, “There is an urgent need to reach out to the people and not treat the present situation as a mere law and order problem.” He thanked the Congress vice-president for taking up the issue in Parliament and forcing the government to a debate on the issue.

“Violence and bloodshed is leading to no solution. The political doors need to be opened urgently before the situation turns more violent,” he said.

The delegation also comprised senior National Conference leaders, including A.R. Rather, Ali Mohammed Sagar, Nasir Wani, Davinder Rana and independent MLA Hakeem Yasin.

The delegation had submitted a memorandum to President Pranab Mukherjee on Saturday, while urging the Centre to deal with the present crisis “politically” rather than administratively.