Meeting in Kashmir appeals to all parties to help in restoring peace

With PDP boycotting it, the all-party meeting convened by the Jammu and Kashmir government today appealed to all political parties irrespective of their affiliation to come forward and help in restoration of peace and normalcy in the state.

After a meeting that lasted over four hours, the meeting also decided to meet prime minister Manmohan Singh and urged the government of India to strengthen the on-going peace process through internal and external dialogue.

"The all-party meeting made a fervent appeal to the people of the state irrespective of their political affiliations to come forward and help in the restoration of peace and normalcy," said a statement issued after the meeting.

The statement was read out by chief minister Omar Abdullah, who had convened the meeting.  It was also boycotted by the Panthers Party but attended by leaders from major national parties Congress, CPI(M) and BJP besides the ruling National Conference.

PDP chief  Mehbooba Mufti boycotted the meeting saying it was an exercise in futility.  She had even rejected the prime minister's appeal to her to attend the meeting to join hands with the government to tackle the current crisis.

The meeting also urged the government to strengthen the on-going peace process through the internal and external
dialogue.

It decided that an all-party delegation shall call on the prime minister and invite his attention to the various problems faced by the people.

The parties urged the state government have an inquiry conducted to ascertain the circumstances leading to the death of civilians.