Omar Abdullah thanks Rahul Gandhi for support

SRINAGAR - Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday thanked Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi for backing him.

‘I am grateful to Rahul Gandhi for his support. I will thank him personally,’ Abdullah said.

Earlier addressing a press conference in Kolkata, Rahul Gandhi said Omar Abdullah was doing a tough job and ’should be given time and support’.

Rahul Gandhi said: “The Congress is supporting Omar. He is an elected leader of National Conference.”

Pointing out that the ongoing unrest in the Kashmir Valley is not a part-time problem, but a full-blown one, Rahul Gandhi said: “I will go to Jammu and Kashmir as my drive is to go to any part of India to bring the youth of Kashmir into the political system”, and added ” It’s a full time responsibility to bring youngsters in politics. Bring Kashmiri youth into politics. Youth is a powerful idea,”

Earlier on Wednesday, a cross section of leaders decided after an all-party meeting held in New Delhi on the Kashmir issue, to send an all-party delegation to find a solution to end the violence in the Kashmir Valley.

Though no consensus emerged on key issues that formed the agenda of the over five-hour-long marathon meeting chaired by the Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, political leaders expressed satisfaction with the tone and tenor of the deliberations.

Removal or amending the controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) will not be under consideration for now, as the leaders said that efforts to restore peace must be given a chance to succeed.

The death toll from the violence in the Kashmir Valley has crossed the 90 mark in the last three months.

Clashes between stone-pelters and security forces have become a near-daily feature in the streets. (ANI)