A National Conference (NC) delegation, led by former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah, on Saturday met Governor Satya Pal Malik against the backdrop of panic created due to rumours about deterioration of situation following advisory issued to pilgrims and tourists to leave the valley.
‘We wanted to know about the current situation in J&K. When we ask officials about the situation, they say something is happening. But nobody knows what is actually happening, Abdullah, who is the vice- president of NC, told reporters outside the Raj Bhawan here on Saturday after meeting.
Meanwhile, a delegation of political leaders, including former chief minister and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti, Peoples Movement (PM) president Shah Faesal, Peoples Conference (PC) chairman Sajjad Lone and former minister Imran Ansari met the Governor last night at Raj Bhawan. Mehbooba, after meeting Malik, said the delegation requested the Governor to dispel rumours that have caused a sense of panic in the valley.
Soon after the meeting last night, the Governor in a statement appealed for peace and calm. ‘The advisory to pilgrims and tourists was issued as there were serious and credible inputs available to the security agencies regarding terrorist attacks on Amarnath yatra,’ Malik said.
However, alleging that his friends staying in hotels in Gulmarg were forced to leave, Abdullah on Friday night said, ‘The State Road Transport Corporation (SRTC) buses are being deployed to bus people out of the ski resort and Pahalgam’. Abdullah said if there is a threat to Amarnath yatra why is Gulmarg being emptied.
The NC vice-president said today he met people who occupy important positions to do with J&K, not one of them was able to tell him anything. ‘I’ve been CM for 6 years. Imagine the plight of your everyday Kashmiri who doesn’t know what to believe,’ he said.
‘Friends staying in hotels in Gulmarg are being forced to leave. State road transport Corpn buses are being deployed to bus people out from Pahalgam & Gulmarg. If there is a threat to the yatra why is Gulmarg being emptied?’ Mr Abdullah wrote on micro-blogging site Twitter.
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