Political rivals assemble, warn Centre against move to tinker with autonomy
Amid rising political uncertainty, fear and panic across the Valley, the Opposition here has come together to warn the Centre against any move to tinker with the special status of the State. Political rivals assembled in the lawns of Farooq Abdullah’s fortified Gupkar road residence and sent an unequivocal message that when it came to protecting the special status enjoyed by the State, they stood shoulder to shoulder.
Burying their own political differences, the representatives of mainstream political parties along with the Congress resolved to protect and defend the identity, autonomy and the special status of the State against all attacks and onslaughts — whatsoever.
After chairing the all-party meeting, National Conference president and Member of Parliament from Srinagar, Farooq Abdullah, flanked by PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti and PDP patron Muzaffar Hussain Baig, told reporters, “During the all-party meeting it was unanimously resolved that all the parties, will be united in their resolve to protect and defend the identity, autonomy and the special status of the State against all attacks and onslaughts what so ever”.
Reading out the text of the resolution passed during the meeting he said, “Modification, abrogation of Article 35-A, 370, delimitation or trifurcation of the State would be an aggression against the people of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh.”
Ironically, there was no reference on the prevailing security situation emerging along the Line of Control due to regular incidents of “unprovoked” ceasefire violations by the Pakistan Army.
Farooq Abdullah also said the political parties in this meeting resolved to seek audience with the President of India, the Prime Minister and also other leaders of the political parties to apprise them of the current situation and make an appeal to them to safeguard the legitimate interest of the people with regard to the constitutional guarantees given to the State by the Constitution of our country.”
“The political representatives will also apprise them of the ‘unwholesome’ consequences, both short and long term, bound to follow the ‘unconstitutional’ violation of these guarantees. The representatives of the political parties also resolved to remain united and stand together for safeguarding the identity, autonomy and special status of the State.
The all-party meet was also attended by former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, senior National Conference leaders and party MP’s Mohd Akbar Lone, Justice (Retd) Hasnain Masoodi, Mohd Ali Sagar and Congress was represented by former Cabinet Minister Taj Mohi-ud-Din, Sajjad Lone and Imran Raza Ansari of Peoples Conference, Shah Faesal Chairman of Peoples’ United Front, Muzaffar Ahmad Shah, President of Awami National Conference.
Farooq Abdullah also appealed to the people of Jammu & Kashmir to keep peace and calm in the Valley.
“I also appeal to both the countries, India & Pakistan not to take any step that may accelerate the tension between the two countries,” he said.
The situation remained tense in the Valley and former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan, who is the mentor of Jammu & Kashmir State teams, along with age-group aspirants, left for their respective homes after ongoing Under-16 and Under-19 trials in Srinagar have been postponed due to prevailing security situation in the Valley.
The State administration has issued an advisory for all tourists and Amarnath Yatris to leave the Valley due to a potential terror threat.
Pathan was in Srinagar to oversee the trials for the U-16 (Vijay Merchant Trophy) and U-19 (Cooch Behar Trophy) and prune the list of probables.
“We have for the time being postponed the second phase of junior team trials. We had the first phase from June to July. This was the second phase. However since there has been a Government advisory, I had a meeting with Jammu & Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA) CEO Bukhari and administrator Justice Prasad.
Accordingly, it was decided that boys need to be sent back home,” Pathan told PTI on Sunday.
Earlier in the day, the Indian Army said it has offered to allow Pakistan to retrieve the dead bodies of the intruders, a day after it foiled an attack by the neighbouring country’s Border Action Team (BAT) on a forward post along the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir’s Keran sector.
Meanwhile, the State administration, after issuing an advisory to the tourists and Amarnath pilgrims, have largely managed to ensure their safe return to their native places. Students of NIT, Srinagar were also dispatched to their home State via train on their arrival in Jammu on late Saturday night. The State administration is also expected to enforce certain restrictions on the movement of political leaders and in order to prevent mass assembly of people may impose restrictions in certain vulnerable pockets across Kashmir Valley. To contain rumor mongering the State administration is also expected to suspend mobile internet services in parts of Kashmir Valley and other parts of the State.
On the political front, Jammu & Kashmir National Conference on Sunday also convened a political affairs committee meeting to deliberate on the prevailing situation in the State. Party leadership unanimously impressed upon the Government of India to clear the air on current Kashmir conundrum. The party leadership called for urgent measures to infuse confidence among the locals.
The party leadership in a marathon four hour meeting expressed concern over the uncertain and uptight situation in the State especially in the Kashmir region. The leaders unanimously asserted that the party will fight any infringement upon the special constitutional position of the State. Party leadership also asserted that the party is ready to go an extra mile to defend the State’s interests both inside and out side parliament. The leadership also urged the people to forge unity in these trying times. They necessitated for maintaining calm. The leadership said the need of the hour’s calls for well considered response to the situation.
CPI(M) leader Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami, DP(N) chief Ghulam Hassan Mir and PDF chief Hakeem Mohammad Yasin on Sunday said the Government’s decision to deploy additional forces in Kashmir and security advisory issued asking tourists, yatris and outside State students to leave Kashmir immediately, has triggered panic and confusion among people in the Valley.
In a joint statement both the leaders said, “The panic escalated since Kashmir was already tense for the past few days after the Centre ordered the deployment of 100 companies of additional troops in the Valley. Massive build-up of security forces, curtailment of the Amarnath Yatra and unprecedented advisories issued to the tourists, yatris and other civilians, all created an atmosphere of heightened insecurity and fear and gave rise to the speculation about some major decision in the offing regarding the J&K’s special status.”