J&K opposition leaders meet Rahul Gandhi over prolonged unrest

New Delhi, Aug 20 (PTI) With Kashmir under curfew for thelast 44 days, former state chief minister Omar Abdullah todayled a joint delegation of opposition parties for a meetingwith Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi where he pitched forefforts to find a political solution to the violent unrestwhich has claimed 64 lives so far. The delegation had called on President Pranab Mukherjeeyesterday and would meet Prime Minister Narendra Moditomorrow. The opposition leaders from the troubled state askedGandhi to make efforts at the national level for finding a"political rather than administrative" solution to the currentspell of unrest, the longest in recent memory, in theaftermath of the killing of militant commander Burhan Wani bythe security forces on July 8. The PDP-BJP government in Jammu and Kashmir led byMehbooba Mufti has been flayed by Abdullah’s NationalConference and other opposition parties for "creatingdisaffection" in the Valley, particularly among the youth, bytrying to find an administrative solution to end the currentspiral of violence. "Discussed the current political crisis in J and K with adelegation of opposition leaders from the state led by@abdullah_omar (Omar Abdullah)," the Congress leader tweetedafter the meeting. CPI-M MLA M Y Tarigami, who was part of the delegation,told Gandhi that the ongoing stir in Kashmir should beconsidered a national problem and a consensus be built amongpolitical parties for evolving a political approach to dealwith the situation. "The present crisis should not be looked through the prismof another round of violence but needs a closer look keepingin mind the scope and implication of this serious crisis,"Tarigami said. State Congress chief G A Mir, who was also in thedelegation that called on Gandhi, said "There is an urgentneed to reach out to the people and not treat the presentsituation as a mere law and order problem." He thanked the Congress vice president for taking up theissue in Parliament and forcing the government to a debate onthe issue. "Violence and bloodshed is leading to no solution. Thepolitical doors need to be opened urgently before thesituation turns more violent," he said. The delegation also comprised senior National Conferenceleaders including A R rather, Ali Mohammed Sagar, Nasir Wani,Davinder Rana and independent MLA Hakeem Yasin. The delegation had met President Pranab Mukherjeeyesterday and submitted him a memorandum urging the Centre todeal with the present crisis "politically" rather thanadministratively. It would meet Prime Minister Modi tomorrow to impress uponhim the need for finding a "political solution" to the crisisby initiating a dialogue with "all stakeholders". PTI SKL SPGSKSK