Abdullahs meet PM Modi, ask him to hold J&K elections before year end

“We discussed two issues with the prime minister. We told him that no step should be taken which will lead to deterioration of the situation in the Kashmir Valley. We also told him that the assembly elections should be held before the end of the year,” PTI quoted Omar Abdullah as saying.

The meeting comes amid the deployment of 100 companies of paramilitary forces in Kashmir, which has led to speculation regarding the abrogation of Article 35A — which empowers the J&K Legislature to define permanent residents of the state.

I accompanied @JKNC_ President Dr Farooq Abdullah Sb & Hon MP Justice Masoodi Sb to a meeting with Hon @PMOIndia this morning. During the course of the meeting we briefed Modi Sb about our assessment of the current situation in the state.

— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) August 1, 2019

When asked if scrapping of Article 35A of Constitution was taken up with PM Modi, Omar Abdullah said the issue was not explicitly mentioned.

“We requested him that no precipitous steps of any sort should be taken that may result in worsening of the situation in the state, particularly the Valley. We specifically asked him to let subjudice matters be settled by the courts and other matters be settled by an elected government,” Abdullah added.

Apprehensions that the Centre might remove Article 35A and Article 370 have been growing ever since Assembly elections were delayed, and President’s Rule was extended earlier this year.

However, over the past few days, several Central government orders have further fuelled speculations of a major decision with regard to Kashmir was on the cards, leading to panic-buying of essential items by the citizens.

However, over the past three days, several Central government orders have further fuelled speculations of a major decision with regard to Kashmir was on the cards, leading to panic-buying of essential items by the citizens.

However, Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik on Tuesday attempted to allay all apprehensions around the situation in the Valley following leaked government orders.

“None of the orders being shown are valid. There is a lot of rumour-mongering here and no need to pay attention to that. Everything is fine, everything is normal,” Malik said, speaking to reporters on the sidelines of an event in Srinagar.

On Wednesday, the BJP appointed vice-president Avinash Rai Khanna as its election in-charge for Jammu and Kashmir Assembly polls, which are expected to be announced soon.

The announcement came after senior party leaders met a delegation of the Jammu and Kashmir state unit, including party’s general secretary in-charge of the state Ram Madhav, Union Minister Jitendra Singh, and state unit chief Ravinder Raina.