National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah to convene all-party meeting on Article 35A

National Conference leader and former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir Farooq Abdullah said that he would call for an all-party meeting later this week in view of increasing rumours and apprehensions over abrogation of Article 35A of Constitution which grants special status to the state.

Abdullah responded to People’s Democratic Party chief Mehbooba Mufti’s request for convening an all-party meeting immediately and presenting a united front against the Centre’s rumoured plans to scrap Article 35A.

The parliamentarian, who represents Srinagar in the Lok Sabha, was in Delhi and said he was in touch with other leaders to decide the final date of the meeting.


Earlier on Monday, Mufti said that keeping in view the recent developments that had caused a sense of panic among people in J&K, she had requested Abdullah to convene an all-party meeting. “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.

Apprehensions over the BJP’s intentions to carry out its plan of scrapping Article 35A have gained ground in the past few days given the Centre’s move to deploy additional troops in the Valley and beef up security and surveillance measures including seeking details of imams of masjids.

Three NC parliamentarians from the Valley have given notice to raise the issue in Parliament and have decided to meet the opposition leaders as well. The party leadership has also sought an appointment with the Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“On the one hand government (of India) claims situation is normal – (Amarnath) yatra is going on smoothly and tourists are coming – and on the other side they are deploying more forces and have kept masjids under scrutiny,” Abdullah told media persons.

Accusing the central government of saying one thing and doing something else, he said, “We have to discuss it and remain ready to face it.”