Key political leaders in Jammu and Kashmir have said they hope Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's call to the Opposition PDP to attend Monday's all-party meeting will lead to its reversing its stand.
On Friday, PDP president Mehbooba Mufti said her party would not attend as it “did not expect anything to come out of such a meeting.” For, there was a “total distrust between the people and this government.” She suggested that the Prime Minister convene a conference instead.
“I hope the Prime Minister's appeal,” Chief Minister Omar Abdullah told The Hindu, “will lead the PDP to reconsider its position. I had reached out to Ms. Mufti personally, and have not lost hope.”
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Kulgam MLA and CPI(M) leader Mohammad Yusuf Tarigami backed Dr. Singh's appeal, saying politicians across party lines needed “to sit together and put forward constructive solutions to address the crisis.” “The PDP must now come to the meeting and put forward its ideas, or it will give the impression that it has nothing positive to contribute,” said Langate MLA Sheikh Abdul Rashid.