Srinagar, July 12: As the situation in Kashmir continues to be edgy, the All Party Meeting convened by the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday urged the state government to conduct probe into the killings that have taken place in the Valley for the past two months allegedly in firing by paramilitary CRPF and police.
The 4-hour long meeting decided to urge the government of India to strengthen the ongoing peace process through the internal and external dialogue and seek Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s intervention in resolving the problems faced by the state.
Briefing the media after the meeting at SK International Convocation Centre, Chief Minister said an all party delegation would call on the Prime Minister and invite his attention to problems faced by state.
The meeting urged the Government of India to strengthen the ongoing peace process through the internal and external dialogue, said Omar who was flanked by the National Conference president Dr Farooq Abdullah, the state Congress president Saif-ud-Din Soz and other senior leaders of the ruling coalition.
The CM who is facing major crisis of his political career, said except for the Jammu based BJP all the political parties present at the meeting urged the state government to conduct an inquiry so as to “ascertain the circumstances leading to the death of the civilians.”
Fifteen people mostly teenagers were killed in the Valley during the past two months allegedly in police and CRPF action. The killings resulted in fast deteriorating law and order situation in the Valley with people coming out on the roads to protests against the unabated killings, mostly of teenagers. The state government had to call in Army, first time since early 90's, and clamped Valley-wide curfew to enforce peace.
“We hope the decision taken will lead to swift changes in the situation and help bring normalcy in the state,” Omar said. The main opposition Peoples Democratic Party, as per its stand taken, stayed away from the meeting seeking direct intervention by the Prime Minister.
“Holding an all party meet at a time when much damage has been done and government has declared a war on its people would be a mere photo opportunity,” the PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti had said.
The meeting, Omar said expressed “deep anguish at the unfortunate loss of lives” during the recent disturbances and appealed to the state government to consider adequate relief in favour of the families of the deceased.
The meeting expressed dismay over the economic losses suffered by the people during the disturbances, particularly by the small traders, vendors, daily wagers and other weaker section of the society, Omar said reading out the resolutions passed in the meeting.
Sources said heated exchanges took place in the meeting between the BJP members and the independent MLA from Langate Engineer Abdur Rashid.
Rashid is learnt to have asked for unconditional talks with the United Jihad Council, a conglomerate of different militant organizations, release of hardliner separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani and others.
“That era has gone that you will hang Afzal Guru,” Rashid is learnt to have said and sought political solution of Kashmir dispute. Sources said this angered the BJP members who entered into heated arguments with Rashid. However Dr Farooq Abdullah intervened to calm them.
Sources said there was unanimity among the participants from ruling coalition—NC and Congress, and others that Kashmir issue has two aspects—political and economical. “Both aspects needed to be addressed,” sources said.
The meeting made an appeal to people to come forward and help in restoration of peace in the Valley. Besides PDP, NPP and ANC also didn’t participate in the meeting.

Lastupdate on : Mon, 12 Jul 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Mon, 12 Jul 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Tue, 13 Jul 2010 00:00:00 IST