STATE TIMES NEWS
SRINAGAR: National Conference President and Member Parliament Dr. Farooq Abdullah has invited all opposition parties in the State for a meeting at his Gupkar residence on Monday morning.
Quoting sources, a Srinagar based agency reported that issues to be discussed at the opposition parties meet include the continuing row over Article 35A governing property rights Act, recent statistical data amendment bill passed by Parliament without the consent of State Assembly, recent arrests of separatist leaders on charges of funding for militancy and stone-pelting related activities and continuing spree in the killing of civilians in different parts of Kashmir Valley.
Confirming that an invitation for the All-Party meet have been sent to him, PCC Chief Ghulam Ahmad Mir told the agency, “We have been invited by the National Conference for a meeting of the opposition parties. We will attend the meeting and discuss the issues put on
the agenda”.
CPI (M) Secretary Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami, PDF chairman Hakim Moahmmad Yasin and Democratic Party Nationalist president Ghulam Hassan Mir also confirmed their participation in the meeting.
Meanwhile, hardening its stand on Article 35A, Kashmir centric National Conference Working President and former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said the BJP would knowingly play with fire and Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti would facilitate it just to remain in office.
”That the BJP would knowingly play with fire & @MehboobaMufti would facilitate it just to remain in office is irresponsible beyond belief,” Abdullah tweeted.
The Centre’s stance seeking a ‘larger debate’ set off alarm bells among a section of politicians in the Valley, prompting Mehbooba Mufti to say that there would be no one to hold the tricolour if provisions regarding special status to J&K residents were altered.