All-party meeting at Mehbooba Mufti’s house over tension in Kashmir

Peoples Democratic Party chief Mehbooba Mufti will host an all-party meeting at her residence Sunday evening amid tension in Jammu and Kashmir over the government’s decision to curtail the Amarnath yatra over a terror threat and deploy a large number of troops in the valley.

Mufti said that the political parties had decided to hold a meeting at a hotel but the police have banned hotels from hosting any political functions.

“We tried to hold the meeting in a hotel but there is a police advisory to all hotels not to allow political meetings. So we are meeting at 6 pm today at my residence,” she said.

Political parties in Kashmir are suspicious that the central government could be preparing the ground to scrap Articles 35A and 370 which give special status to Jammu and Kashmir.

The former chief minister said that they had cautioned people of the country about the consequences of tinkering with articles 35 A and 370 of the Constitution.

“We got no assurance from the Centre. They are not bothered to even say everything will be alright,” she said.

Earlier in the day, National Conference vice president Omar Abdullah presided over his party’s Political Affairs Committee (PAC) meeting at Nawai Subah, Srinagar.

Meanwhile, army said that they have asked the Pakistan army to take possession of bodieslying in Keran sector.

“Yesterday evening Indian Army has offered to Pak Army to retrieve the dead bodies of their personnel in Keran Sect for last rites. Pak Army yet to respond,” said army spokesman Colonel Rajesh Kalia.

On Saturday, the army said that an attempt to disturb peace by Border Action Team (BAT) from Pakistan was foiled by the alert troops at the forward posts in Keran sector of Kupwara district resulting in “neutralising of 5 to 7 pak regulars/terrorists”. HT