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Tribune News Service
Srinagar, July 29
Leaving behind the bitterness of the past, Mehbooba Mufti has reached out to her arch rival Farooq Abdullah to launch a joint fight for protecting the special status of J&K.
The development took place a day after Mehbooba warned New Delhi that any attempt to tamper with Article 35 A would be “akin to setting a powder keg on fire”.
Soon after reaching out to Farooq, National Conference vice-president Omar Abdullah said before calling senior leaders from other parties in J&K to discuss the current situation, it was important to try to understand the Centre’s intentions for the state.
The latest bonhomie between the two arch rivals over safeguarding the special status of J&K started after Peoples Democratic Party president Mufti requested NC chief Farooq Abdullah to convene an all-party meeting.
“In the light of recent developments that have caused a sense of panic among J&K people, I’ve requested Dr Farooq Abdullah sahib to convene an all-party meeting. Need of the hour is to come together and forge a united response. We the people of Kashmir need to stand up as one,” Mehbooba tweeted.
Sources said Mehbooba called Farooq over the phone and the two discussed the present situation and the need for a “joint response” from the mainstream parties.
There are rumours in the Valley that the Centrewas announcing a “big decision” for J&K after the Amarnath yatra. In Kashmir, rumours have been rife that the big decision that New Delhi could take is to abrogate Article 35A.
Meanwhile, Omar reacted to Mehbooba’s offer immediately and said the party MPs had sought an appointment with the Prime Minister.
“Before calling senior leaders from other parties in J&K to discuss the current situation it’s important to try to understand from the Central Government about their intentions for the state and also how they see the situation at the moment. This is what @JKNC_ is focused on,” Omar tweeted.
“JKNC HMP’s (honourable MPs) have given a notice to raise the current situation in Kashmir in the Lok Sabha today and have also sought an appointment with PM Mr. Narendra Modi,” he added.
Meanwhile, there have been voices in Kashmir that all political parties should together fight for safeguarding the special status.
“I think we are at a stage when the political leadership should keep their egos aside and sit together for some time. The onus is on Omar and Mehbooba to meet in Srinagar at the earliest and invite all other political leaders from Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh who have an interest in protecting the special status of the state,” said IAS-turned-politician Shah Faesal.
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