Party offices keenly follow all-party meet

Srinagar, June 24: At 3 pm on Thursday, the National Conference headquarters at Nawa-e-Subah witnessed party people eagerly surfing the internet on their mobile handsets. Some of them taking a stroll in the lawns of the premises and a few others inside the building could be seen busy discussing the likely outcome of the all-party meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi.

From a veteran party worker to a young office assistant, everyone was glued to their mobile handsets, keen to know what had transpired in the meeting. “This is a golden opportunity for the Government of India to create a political breakthrough after the lull of the last two years. I am hopeful that our leader Dr Farooq Abdullah will convey people’s issues and problems to the PM,” said a veteran NC worker.

   

As the television news channels started flashing the news of the all-party meeting from Delhi, NC spokesman Imran Nabi Dar said the party was hopeful regarding the outcome of the meeting. “As every other Kashmiri, we are anxious but hopeful that something good is going to come. Our party president has already made the stand clear with regard to decisions taken on August 5, 2019,” said Dar. The NC spokesman said the meeting was “called without an agenda” but added that an all-party meet will act as an “ice-breaker”. “The ice has been broken and we are expecting that the Government of India has something good in store for J&K. During the deliberations with our party president for the last three days, all the party functionaries have made the stand clear, which is to represent the real aspirations of the people in J&K in front of the PM,” said Dar.

At the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) headquarter near the Sher-e-Kashmir Park, the party spokesperson could be seen busy taking part in a live television panel discussion. While the party spokesman was occupied in the heated and animated TV debate regarding the all-party meet, several party workers were glued to the TV set to keep themselves updated with the happenings of the meeting.

As the first images of the meeting were broadcast, showing a group photo of the 14 invited leaders posing with the PM and Home Minister, the curious PDP workers were keen to get a glimpse of the picture.

PDP spokesman Mohit Bhan, busy shifting between the TV debate and phone calls, said, “It was good that the PM had decided to break the logjam with help of the all-party meeting by inviting political leadership from all sections of the society of Jammu and Kashmir”. “We welcome the step and I am very hopeful there will be a healthy exchange of ideas and thoughts. It will be a great thing to see if they decide to meet again. It is a very good initiative and a very well reciprocated one from all sections of society,” said Bhan.

When asked what confidence-building measures will the PDP president Mehbooba Mufti be asking for during the meeting, Bhan said: “Calling the meeting itself is a CBM. Although the meeting has come a little late, nonetheless it is a welcome step. I am certainly sure that she (Mehbooba Mufti) will put forth her point of view and I am hopeful that the central leadership will listen not only to her but all other leaders and move forward in building confidence among people in J&K.”

At the offices of other political parties, although not many leaders could not be seen around, some office-bearers said they were busy following the developments taking place in the all-party meeting in New Delhi.

An Apni Party leader said they were in constant touch with each other and eager to know the outcome of the meeting. “Right since morning, we are busy communicating within the party ranks to keep each other updated and also know what was happening in the meeting. It is also important to keep a track of the social media and news channels on such an important day,” said an Apni Party leader.

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