The Congress on Friday urged the government not to take any decision that would precipitate a crisis in Jammu and Kashmir and asked it to ensure the constitutional guarantees given to the state are maintained.
The appeal to the government came after a Congress policyplanning group on Jammu and Kashmir met under the chairmanship of former primeminister Manmohan Singh.
“There was deepconcern expressed at the continuous reports emanating from both the Union HomeMinistry and the State Government which were creating an atmosphere of panicand apprehension about the intentions of the government,” an officialstatement said.
It said the “massive build-up” of security forces,curtailment of the Sri Amarnath Yatra, also the unprecedented advisories beingissued to the tourists, yatris and other civilians, are all creating anatmosphere of heightened insecurity and fear.
The Congress statement said, “The Group urged thegovernment not to take any decision which would precipitate a deepcrisis.”
“The Group also discussed the widespread fear andapprehension in the minds of the people across the State of J&K aboutgovernment’s intentions of abolishing Articles 35-A and 370. They reiteratedthe considered policy of the Congress Party and asked the Government tomaintain the constitutional guarantees given to the State of Jammu &Kashmir,” it said.
The meeting was attended among others by state’s former’Sadr-e-Riyasat’ Karan Singh, Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam NabiAzad, former home minister P Chidambaram, Congress in-charge for J&Kaffairs Ambika Soni, CWC member Tariq Hamid Karra, J&K PCC President GhulamAhmed Mir and former CLP Leader Rigzing Zora. The group monitors the situation in Jammu andKashmir and comes out with policy planning and suggestions on behlf of theCongress party.