Irfan A Mir
Srinagar, August 4: National Conference President and former Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah has invited leadership of many mainstream political parties for a crucial meeting at his residence here on August 5.
Many leaders said they have received invitation from Farooq Abdullah for a crucial get together at his residence tomorrow to deliberate over the prevailing political mess in J&K since August 5, 2019.
They said during the meet the future strategy about how to retrieve special status of J&K is on agenda.
A senior political leader said on August 5, there will be “crucial meeting” at Farooq Abdullah’s residence at Gupkar. “It will start at 11:00 am”.
He said many political parties including National Conference (NC), Peoples Conference (PC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Congress, Awami National Conference (ANC), CPI (M), PDF and J&K Peoples Movement headed by former bureaucrat turned politician Dr Shah Faesal are expected to attend the meet.
“Besides Farooq, former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, MPs Justice (retd.) Hasnain Masoodi and Mohammad Akbar Lone, Dr Sheikh Mustafa Kamal, Sajad Lone Muzaffar Shah, Ghulam Ahmad Mir, Mohammad Yusuf Tarigami and Dr Shah Faesal are likely to attend to meet”, he told KNS.
However authorities have deployed police and other paramilitary forces personnel in strength in and around the residences of political leaders ahead of first anniversary of abrogation of Article 370 & 35(A).
ANC senior vice-president Muzaffar Shah while talking to KNS confirmed the restrictions around his residence. “My gate has been shut by forces and police van has been deputed outside. I have been informed about two-days of house detention by cops”, he said.
When asked how scheduled meeting is possible amid restrictions by authorities he said, “Gupkar Declaration is alive and we will never compromise on it. We will fight democratically against decisions taken on August 5, 2019”.
The authorities have decided to impose strict curfew across Srinagar and restrictions in other parts of Valley to foil any protests against scrapping of J&K’s special status. (KNS)
