Mehbooba calls on Farooq Abdullah to discuss political situation

In an unexpected move, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Tuesday called on opposition National Conference president Farooq Abdullah to discuss the prevailing political situation in the state.

Mehbooba Mufti drove to the high-security Gupkar Road residence of Abdullah in the evening for the meeting, which was described as "cordial".

Posting a comment on the meeting, Abdullah's son and former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah posted on his widely followed Twitter handle: "Mehbooba Mufti called on JKNC President this evening to discuss the prevailing political situation in the state. It was a cordial meeting."

"With an aim to create a wider consensus amongst like minded parties in this battle to prevent Art 35A being struck down in the Supreme Court," he said in another tweet.

The debate surrounding the Constitution's Article 35A is gradually heating up in the state following a petition in the Supreme Court that has sought abrogation of the article giving powers to the J&K legislature to define permanent residents of the state and their privileges.

On Monday, the elder Abdullah had chaired a meeting of opposition leaders of the state at his residence where issues related to Article 35A were discussed and later told the media that its abrogation would cause an uprising the government might not be able to handle.

--IANS

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