All party delegation meeting separatists was scheduled: Omar Abdullah

SRINAGAR - Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday said the all-party delegation’s decision to meet the separatist was scheduled and “we had only worked towards it to make it possible”.

“Members of the all party delegation meeting separatists was a part of the plan. We wanted the delegation members to meet as many as people they could,” he said.

“The delegation has come to get a report about the ground situation here and we tried to ensure that the delegation meets as many people as possible,” he added.

“I am happy that it worked and the delegation got views of every shade of opinion in the Valley,” he said.

He further said the delegation’s visit was not a mere show and they needed to know the ground situation in the Valley.

With regards to his demand for a review of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), Omar refused to get into a controversy but kept steady on his demand.

“I am not asking it for myself…It is for the Government of India to decide. Let’s see what happens,” he said.

Earlier, leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj has said the decision to meet the separatists was not a collective decision of the all party delegation to Jammu and Kashmir.

Talking to reporters during her visit to the Hazratbal Shrine along with other party delegates, Sushma Swaraj said that it was not in the mandate to meet the separatists; however some of the individual delegates expressed their desire to meet the separatists, so they did.

“No, no, it was not a mandate. It was not discussed in the delegation. Some of the members expressed their desire to go there. Naturally the delegation leader said you can go,” she added.

On Monday, a group of members led by the Left, went to the houses of separatists leaders to ask them to help end the cycle of violence in the Kashmir Valley.

Meanwhile, the members of visiting delegation today reached out directly to some of the common people affected by the recent unrest in the valley.

A group of members of the delegation including Sushma Swaraj visited some of the injured in a Srinagar hospital. Another group led by Home Minister P Chidambaram and Omar Abdullah visited Tangmarg.

The delegation will be holding discussions with political parties and social groups besides other stake holders in Jammu. (ANI)