A National Conference delegation, led by its president Farooq Abdullah, met Prime Minister Narendra Modi here on Thursday and conveyed to him that assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir should be held before the end of the year.
The delegation, which met Modi for about 20 minutes, alsorequested him not to take any step that may lead to deterioration in thesituation in Kashmir.
Former chief ministerOmar Abdullah, who was also part of the delegation along with party MP HasnainMasoodi, said they apprised the Prime Minister about the situation in the stateand the apprehensions of the people. “We discussed two issues with thePrime Minister. We told him that no step should be taken which will lead todeterioration of the situation in Kashmir. We also told him that the assemblyelections should be held before the end of the year,” Omar told reportershere.
He said that they have conveyed to the Prime Minister thatthe situation in the Kashmir has improved and it is better than last year, butthe situation can deteriorate at any time. “We apprised him about thepeople’s feelings and also told him that there is tension in the people’smind,” Omar added.
Asked whether the speculation about the possibility ofscrapping of Article 35A of the Constitution was taken up with the PrimeMinister, Omar said they did not specify about it. “But, when we say thatthere should be no step that means it covers all issues, including Article 35Aand Article 370,” he said.
“We are of the view that let a new government beelected and take decisions on it. Let the people decide whom they want toelect. We will accept the people’s verdict,” he said.
Omar said that the meeting with PM Modi was very cordial andthe Prime Minister also apprised them about his feelings (on Jammu andKashmir).
“We are satisfied with the meeting,” Omar said,refusing to disclose what the Prime Minister told the delegation.
Asked about PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti’s appeal for an unitedstand by the political parties in Jammu and Kashmir, he said a meeting of thepolitical affairs committee of the NC will be held on Sunday and it will take adecision on it.
Later, in a series of tweets, Omar said, “We requestedhim (PM Modi) that no precipitous steps of any sort should be taken that mayresult in situation in the state, particularly the Valley, worsening. Wespecifically asked him to let subjudice matters be settled by the courts &other matters be settled by an elected government”.
“Dr (Farooq) Abdullah Sb reminded the Hon PM thatJ&K has been without an elected government for well over a year now andrequested him to take all necessary steps to facilitate the @ECISVEEP’s(Election Commission of India) conduct of assembly polls before the onset ofwinter,” he tweeted.
The meeting comes in the backdrop of the central governmentsending 100 additional companies or 10,000 personnel of Central Armed PoliceForces (CAPFs) to the Valley.
The government had said the troops were being deployed tostrengthen the counter-insurgency grid and law and order duties inKashmir.
NC spokesman adds
Meanwhile, a National Conference spokesman in a statementsaid, ” The visiting delegation apprised the Prime Minister about the panic andthe anxiety that has gripped Kashmir following undue rumor mongering. The delegationacquainted the Prime Minister about the anxiousness that has beset the state inwake of deployment of troops and undue tinkering with the states specialstatus. They urged the PM that no pronouncement that might vitiate the peacefulatmosphere of the state should be made.”
The delegation, according the spokesman, implored that at atime when Amaranth Yarta is going on smoothly, tourist flow is slowing pickingup, no decision or any pronouncement should be made that deteriorates thesituation. “The meeting was an earnest endeavor by the party to acquaint thePrime Minster about the current situation in Kashmir,” he added.