Kashmir issue: Congress asks Mehbooba to attend all-party meeting

Against the backdrop of PDP refusing to join the all-party meting called by Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah to defuse the crisis, Congress today urged all mainstream parties in the Valley to help bring normalcy in the situation.

"PM has already appealed to PDP to attend the all-party meeting there. Congress believes that every party which is in the main stream in the Valley should realise the seriousness of the situation and join together to restore normalcy," party spokesperson Shakeel Ahmed told PTI.

Ahmed's comments came after Mehbooba Mufti of PDP turned
down prime minister Manmohan Singh's request to attend the
meeting.

Reacting to the development, Ahmed said "All political parties should contribute to bring back normalcy in the Valley."

Senior Congress leader Digvijay Singh also appealed to
Mehbooba to reconsider her stand in the Valley's interest and
attend the all-party meeting.

"It is in everyone's interest that peace returns in Kashmir Valley and we should rise above politics. I would urge upon the PDP, particularly Mufti saheb and Mehbooba, to reconsider their decision and participate (in the meeting) in bringing back peace in Valley," Singh said.