All-party meet to chalk out future action against Article 370 abrogation disallowed, says Omar

As strict restrictions were placed here on the first anniversary of the abrogation of Article 370, the National Conference (NC) on Wednesday said an all party meeting to chalk out future course of action had been disallowed.

NC president and MP Farooq Abdullah on Tuesday had called a meeting on Wednesday at his Gupkar address to discuss “political strategy on Article 370”.

“One year on, this is Gupkar road today – police vehicles opposite our gates, concertina wire strung across the road at regular intervals & no vehicles allowed. My father had called a meeting of leaders of MAINSTREAM parties to deliberate on the current situation,” former CM and NC vice-president Omar Abdullah said while tweeting a photograph of a view outside his Gupkar residence.

“Clearly the meeting is not being allowed to go ahead. The BJP gets to announce a 15-day celebration to mark 5th Aug & a handful of us aren’t allowed to meet in my father’s lawn. So much for BJP national leaders wondering why there is no political activity. One year later, the authorities are still too afraid to allow us to meet, much less carry out any normal political activity. This fear speaks volumes about the true situation on the ground in Kashmir,” he added.

District Administration Srinagar had on Monday announced curfew for August 4 and 5. However, on Tuesday evening it said the curfew was lifted and Covid-19 restrictions would remain in place.