This Article is From Jul 12, 2010

All-party meet on Kashmir begins, Mehbooba not attending

Srinagar: The all-party peace meet called by J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to find a way out of the crisis in the state has begun.

But the main Opposition leader and People's Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti is not attending the meeting. She refused to budge from her decision despite the Prime Minister requesting her to attend the meeting.

Addressing the press on Sunday, the PDP president explained that she thanked the Prime Minister and the Home Minister for their calls and it was painful for her to tell the Prime Minister that she couldn't attend the meet because the state government was doing nothing on the ground.

Appealing to the Prime Minister to end the crackdown on civilians, she continued to blame the Omar Abdullah government for letting things deteriorate so far.

Senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh too has asked Mufti to reconsider her decision.

"In the interest of peace in the Valley we would sincerely ask her reconsider her decision and attend the meeting because it has been convened for a reason as requested by the PM," the Congress leader said.

Earlier in the day, defending his decision to call the all-party meeting at this stage, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah told NDTV that his first priority was to bring the situation under control. (Watch: Have to re-build things brick by brick: Omar)

Asked about whether he could have handled the crisis differently, the CM said while he was open to criticism, much of the criticism coming his way was subjective. However Omar said that in the end the responsibility was his saying that he would have to rebuild things brick by brick. (Read: Kashmir issue: a personal setback for me: Omar)

On Saturday, Omar wrote to PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti and called her up as well, but Mufti had rejected his request to attend the meeting on Monday. (Read: PDP turns down Omar's request)

Mehbooba Mufti had maintained that the meeting was being called after all important decisions like calling the Army into Srinagar had been taken.

"Omar has admitted having lost credibility, let him re-establish it. Our position on all-party meeting remains unchanged," a PDP spokesperson said on Saturday.

Meanwhile, officially curfew has been lifted in most areas of Kashmir. However, curfew like restrictions continue in downtown Srinagar, Sopore, Baramulla and Pulwama.

Earlier on Saturday, curfew was re-imposed in Maisuma area of Srinagar and three other districts in the Valley after clashes between protesters and security forces. This, after the city woke up to a peaceful morning. (Watch: Kashmir valley's night of peace)

A semblance of normalcy seemed to have returned to the streets of the city after a night that passed off without any major incident despite curfew being relaxed for the first time in three days. (Read: Srinagar curfew eased for Shab-e-Meraj prayers)
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