Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, July 20: The main opposition party in the State, National Conference (NC), today announced to boycott Thursday’s All Party Meeting called by Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti to discuss security situation in Kashmir arisen after the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani while Congress is attending the meeting.
In a letter written to A R Veeri, Minister for Public Works and Parliamentary Affairs, the general secretary of NC, Ali Mohammad Sagar described the holding of All Party Meeting by Chief Minister as meaningless exercise. “Until such time a credible, effective and humane leadership is re-established in the State, this All Party Meeting will prove to be a meaningless exercise”, the letter reads.
Sagar while expressing unwillingness to participate in the meeting said: “I regret that National Conference is unable to participate under the circumstances. In the meanwhile J&K National Conference has already submitted a detailed Memorandum to the Governor wherein steps to ease the tension have been mentioned. Further-more my party has always played a positive role in maintaining peace and harmony in the State and we will continue to do so regardless.”
“It is extremely unfortunate that although the CM saw it fit to call a meeting of civil society in Srinagar within days of protests breaking out, it has taken almost two weeks to call a meeting of all political parties. In the meantime, the number of dead and injured has continued to rise. It would have been better if the Chief Minister had responded to our party leadership’s offer of support earlier instead of waiting for the suffering and misery of the people to reach this level”.
“Successive statements from various high level functionaries of the ruling coalition especially the PDP have not only added to the confusion but have significantly weakened the institution and office of the Chief Minister. Confusion about how much the Chief Minister knew regarding the Burhan encounter is one such example”, reads the letter.
“Similarly the assertion by one of the PDP Member’s of Parliament crediting the Prime Minister with reducing excessive use of force further weakened the image of the Chief Minister who is seen as a mute spectator, immune to the bloodshed and sufferings. To make matters worse the same MP has repeatedly asserted the Burhan Wani was unlawfully killed by sections of J&K Police to discredit the State’s Chief Minister. This leads one to conclude that Ms Mufti Sahiba does not even command the loyalty of her police force, much less the loyalty of the people”, reads the letter.
NC accused Government of muzzling the press. “Finally the total mis-handling of the Press by first enforcing a ban and raiding offices of news papers, seizing plates and newspapers which was justified by the senior Minister and spokesperson of the Government in turn contradicted more than 72 hours later by the Advisor to the Chief Minister leads us to conclude that there is no effective leadership in the State Government at present”, the letter reads.
The Congress, however, will attend the All Parties meet. The JKPCC president, GA Mir told Excelsior that his party will attend the meeting and raise the issue of unrest. “We will attend the All Parties meeting as we had demanded it. We will raise the issue of the unrest and innocent killings and large number of injuries that have taken place across Kashmir. We will raise various issues connected with the unrest and efforts made by the Government to restore peace in Kashmir”, he added.
Meanwhile, Omar Abdullah, working president National Conference and former Chief Minister, met Governor N N Vohra at the Raj Bhavan here today.
Omar apprised the Governor about his own and his party’s concerns on the prevailing situation in the Valley, particularly issues relating to internal security management, role of the media and other matters.
The Governor urged Abdullah to contribute towards the very early restoration of peace and normalcy in the Valley.
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