National Conference (NC) president Dr. Farooq Abdullah and People’s Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti on Monday initiated an all-party meeting over the ongoing security measures and apprehensions about abrogation of Article 35A, granting special rights to Kashmiris.
“There is panic in Kashmir. One lakh soldiers are being called in. It’s not a joke. The government claims the situation is normal, the Amarnath Yatra is going on smoothly and tourists are coming, but, at the same time, more forces are deployed and mosques are under scrutiny. This is why we are calling the [all-party] meeting,” said Dr. Abdullah.
The “Centre was saying one thing and doing another. We have to discuss it and be ready to face it,” Dr. Abdullah, three-time Chief Minister and Member of Parliament from Srinagar, said .
ADVERTISEMENT
Sources said Dr. Abdullah would return from Delhi this week and convene a meeting in Srinagar. The three MPs of his party were also seeking an appointment with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Earlier, PDP president Mehbooba Mufti said she approached Dr. Abdullah for an aal-party meeting. “In the light of recent developments that have caused a sense of panic among people in J&K, the need of the hour is to come together and forge a united response. We the people of Kashmir need to stand up as one,” she said.
The rival NC and the PDP’s moves follow a slew of security measures, including deployment of 10,000 additional personnel and directions to local police.
ADVERTISEMENT
Mosques under scanner
In a fresh order on Monday, the police sought details of mosques in the Kashmir Valley. All superintendents of police (SPs) were directed in the capital to start gathering details about mosques, their ideological affiliations, names of the local imams (priests) and the management heads.
“The exercise is being carried out to update the data. It is part of normal policing,” said Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Srinagar, Haseeb Mughal.
Mere rumours: Vijay Kumar
Governor' Satya Pal Malik’s Advisor on Home Affairs K. Vijay Kumar termed the security measures for any upcoming event “rumours”.
“I have already clarified that it is a deliberate and calculated response to the security grid, which is available here. There was an addition or reduction of the security grid due to our focus on the Amarnath Yatra...There are so many things happening on the social media. So for us to react to everything it will give strength to these people,” he added.