PDP Leaders Not To Meet Mehbooba Mufti Today, Composition Of Delegation Yet To Be Finalised

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leaders have deferred the meeting with detained party chief Mehbooba Mufti in Srinagar. The delegation was granted permission by the Jammu and Kashmir government on a day when 15-member National Conference (NC) delegation met party president Farooq Abdullah and former chief minister Omar Abdullah for the first time since they were put in detention two months ago. 

Making the announcement on Twitter PDP leader Firdous Tak wrote: “PDP Jammu decided to defer its scheduled visit of its leaders to meet party president @MehboobaMufti sahiba for tomorrow (sic).”

According to news agency PTI, PDP said the visit had been deferred because of the lack of unanimity on the composition of the delegation.

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.

Meanwhile, senior BJP leader Ram Madhav also said leaders who are currently under house arrest in Jammu and Kashmir will be released soon and they can resume their "normal" political activity.

Speaking at 'Jana Jagaran Sabha' on abrogation of Article 370 that gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir, the BJP general secretary said once Governors rule is lifted and legislature takes over, constitutional entities such as Commissions for SC, Women and Minorities will be set up in the region.

Describing Article 370 as cancer for the past 70 years he said Prime Minister Narendra Modi removed it in just 70 hours.