Dr Farooq led around 20 opposition leaders set to hold meeting in Jammu tomorrow

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Other than BJP, DPAP, PC & AP, all leaders from different parties invited

JAMMU: Nearly 20 opposition leaders headed by Member of Parliament from Srinagar constituency and National Conference President Dr Farooq Abdullah are set to hold a meeting on Tuesday afternoon in Jammu.

Sources privy to the development told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that around 20 leaders will be attending the meeting of opposition leaders tomorrow at Dr Farooq Abdullah’s Jammu residence, which will begin at 2:30 PM.

Those who will participate in the meeting include NC President Dr Farooq Abdullah, PDP President Mehbooba Mufti, CPI (M) leader M Y Tarigami, INC Raman Bhalla and Vikar Rasool, ANC Muzaffar Ahmad Shah, Dogra Sada Sabha Ghulchain Singh Chadak, Panthers Party Harsh Dev Singh, IDP R D Khajuria, United Peace Alliance Shahid Saleem, Muslim United Front Zaffar Ahmad, Peoples Movement Dr Hussain, Akali Dal Narendra Singh, State Mission hood Sunil Dimple, CPI’s G M Mizrab.

Moreover, some of the leaders from other parties including Shiv Sena and Akali Dal have also been invited for the meeting.

Talking to KNO, PDP and Congress said that the invitation has been sent to their leaders and confirmed their participation in the meeting.

CPI (M) leader, M Y Tarigami has left for Jammu today to attend the meeting tomorrow.

However, sources said that four major parties including the ruling BJP and DPAP led by Ghulam Nabi Azad, Peoples Conference led by Chairman Sajad Gani Lone and Apni Party led by Syed Altaf Bukhari have not been invited for the meeting.

Sources said the meeting will discuss several issues including the prevailing situation in Jammu and Kashmir and across the country.

The meeting will also discuss the issue of deferment of local body and Panchayat polls as is being reported by several news outlets in Jammu and Kashmir besides seat-sharing for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls for INDIA alliance, sources said.

He also said that a threadbare discussion will also take place regarding launching of mass movement against deferment of local body and panchayat polls in Jammu and Kashmir.

If sources are to be believed, the leaders will also hold a meeting with civil society Jammu to discuss several social and political issues after tomorrow’s meeting.

Sources said at the meeting, members of opposition parties will also discuss the proceeding in light of the impending decision on the Article 370 petition by the Supreme Court, expected by mid-October.

The hearing on petitions challenging the abrogation of Article 370 commenced on August 2nd and concluded on September 6th. Following arguments from both sides, the five-judge bench, led by Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud, has reserved the judgment.

Jammu and Kashmir is presently under Central rule since June 2018 following the collapse of the BJP-PDP coalition government. In December 2018, the Centre imposed President’s rule in Jammu and Kashmir.

In August 2019, the government revoked Article 370 and also bifurcated the erstwhile J&K State into two union territories, Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh