J-K: Mainstream political parties to meet at Mehbooba's residence at 6 pm, discuss Kashmir situation

Srinagar: Leaders of the mainstream political parties in Kashmir will hold an all-party meeting Sunday evening here to discuss the prevailing situation in the Valley.

Kashmir has been on the edge following the deployment of additional troops and the state administration's order asking the Amarnath Yatra pilgrims and the tourists to leave the Valley owing to security reasons. Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti said the leaders of various political parties had decided to meet at a hotel here, but the police asked it not to allow any political meeting in its premises "The political parties here had decided to hold a meeting at a hotel today. But, police has issued an advisory to all hotels not to let political parties hold any meeting in their premises.

Now we are holding the meeting at my residence at 6 pm today," she told reporters here. Mehbooba said she talked to Nation Conference president Farooq Abdullah about the meeting and he committed that party's vice president Omar Abdullah would attend it. "I talked to Farooq Sahab, he is unwell. But he made the commitment that Omar sahib will attend the meeting. I have talked to other leaders. It is very important for J&K that mainstream parties, civil society, trade unions, religious organisations and even separatists come together to fight this scourge," The PDP president said.

She said the Centre was not bothered to speak on the situation in Jammu and Kashmir. "We had made an effort to tell the people of this country and the government about the consequences if they toy with Articles 35A and 370 (of the Constitution). We made an appeal too, but no assurance has been given yet from the Centre. They are not bothered to say anything, to say that everything will be alright," Mehbooba said. Asked about the situation on the Line of Control (LoC), the PDP president said.

"We have heard about the situation on the border. The civilian casualties are condemnable, we are hearing that cluster bombs are being used. This is very wrong. This is done by Israel. Our country is Gandhi's country and if this is happening, then it is very wrong." The former chief minister accused the Centre of using corruption as a tool against the leaders of the mainstream political parties in the valley. "They (Centre) did whatever they had to with separatists. Now, they are using many tactics against mainstream political parties. When they got a hint of an all-party meet, Farooq (Abdullah) was taken to Chandigarh (for questioning by the ED in cricket association scam).

"They are using corruption as a tool against political parties, crackdowns are being done, workers are being harassed, detained in police stations and their security withdrawn," she alleged. "They (Centre) are making them (mainstream political leaders) vulnerable so that if anything happens tomorrow and people get angry, they (people) direct it at the mainstream parties rather than the Centre, and, god forbid, they are creating a civil war-like situation. It is a very sinister design that is going on," Mehbooba added.