‘Kashmir Situation Bigger Than Any Party’: Mehbooba Mufti Declines Meet With Party Leaders

Owing to the situation in Kashmir, People’s Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti has refused to meet a delegation of her party members despite J-K Governor Satya Pal Malik granting the permission. Earlier, the PDP had said the visit has been deferred because of the lack of unanimity on the composition of the delegation. However, according to the Indian Express report, Mehbooba “is in distress” and has refused to meet the delegation stating that “the situation in Kashmir is bigger than any party matter at the moment and that she does not wish to become an international prop”.

Hundreds of political leaders were taken into custody as ‘precautionary measure’ amid tensions in Kashmir after New Delhi on August 5 announced abrogation of provisions of Article 370 and decided to bifurcate the state into Union territories - Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh - hours after Kashmir was placed under a total clampdown. 

Over 250 petitions have been filed against the preventive detention orders against prominent political leaders in Jammu and Kashmir. Petitions have also been filed in the Supreme Court against the detentions.

On Monday, Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik directed officials to lift the advisory that asked tourists to stay away from the Valley. This will be done with effect from October 10. Once lifted, tourists will be free to visit the Valley.

“Governor Satya Pal Malik has directed that the Home Department’s advisory asking tourists to leave the valley be lifted immediately. This will be done with effect from 10.10.2019,” reported ANI.

The development comes two months after tourists were asked to leave the valley. The state administration on August 2 had issued a security advisory asking Amarnath pilgrims and tourists to leave Kashmir as soon as possible, citing terror threat in the Valley.