Terming the prevailing situation as “existential threat” to Jammu and Kashmir, Peoples United Front (PUF) leader Shah Faesal Friday said unity among political parties can bring the state out of uncertainty.
Faesal and chairman of Awami Ithehad Party (AIP), Er Rasheedhad called an All-Party Meeting here amid reports that Government of Indiamight take some major decision vis-à-vis Jammu and Kashmir.
Addressing media after the meeting with representatives fromdifferent political parties, Faesal, who is Chairman J&K Peoples Movement(JKPM), said: “It was heartening to see that almost all political partiesparticipated in the meeting.”
Faesal said senior political leaders including NationalConference President Farooq Abdullah and PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti had senttheir “blessings”, since they could not make it to the meeting owing to priorengagements.
“This All-Party Meeting will lead to emergence of force ofunity. It was decided during the meeting that it is important to put up face oftogetherness at this critical juncture,” said Faesal.
He said owing to the “existential threat” to the state thepolitical parties have decided to forge unity. “No political party will survivewhen the state is facing existential threat. We have come up as one voice. Itwas decided that an appeal will be made to Government of India to clarify whatis in store for all of us. Why this atmosphere of uncertainty is being createdin the state?” asked Faesal.
The former-bureaucrat-turned-politician requested people tostay united in the face of the “unprecedented crisis”. “They must wait forright occasion if any response is to be made from their side. In coming days wewill be keenly watching the developments and taking further step which I maynot be able to share with you at this moment,” said Faesal.
Cautioning the Union Government, Faesal said the statepolitical parties will react to any “unexpected situation”. “Our response hasstarted right now and we are not going to sit quiet. We will react and respondto any situation as and when it develops,” he said.
Faesal said the State has never seen this “unprecedentedsecurity situations”. “That’s why we apprehend that something sinister orunprecedented is planned for the state. The state administration and Governmentof India is also not taking serious steps to clear the confusion,” he said.
Earlier, the all-party meeting was attended by PUF leaderJavaid Mustafa Mir, Peoples Democratic Party Youth president Waheed Para, PDPleader Aijaz Ahmad Mir, National Conference leader and spokesperson Imran NabiDar and leaders from other political parties including Awami NationalConference.
The head of All Parties Sikh Coordination Committee (APSCC)Jagmohan Singh Raina and former Parliamentarian GN Ratanpuri also attended themeeting. But the Congress, CPI (M) and Peoples Conference didn’t attend themeeting.