PDP holds meetings in Jammu and Srinagar, demands release of political leaders

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Monday held a meeting in Srinagar, the first after the Centre abrogated Article 370, to take stock of the the situation in the valley and arrangements being made to observe the fourth death anniversary of party's founder Mufti Mohammad Sayeed on January 7.

In another meeting held in Jammu, the party sought immediate release of all detained political leaders, including its president and former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti.

In Jammu, the meeting was presided over by PDP general secretary and former MLC Surinder Chowdhary who termed the prolonged incarceration of politicians in Jammu and Kashmir as "unjustified and uncalled for", a party spokesperson said.

"The prolonged incarceration is deeply perturbing for any democratic setup and the government of India must contemplate that such an action is not helping it in any way in restoration of normalcy in Jammu and Kashmir," the spokesman said quoting Chowdhary.

Highlighting the role of the PDP in making peace initiatives successful in the erstwhile state, Chowdhary said the party has always been at the forefront in making hectic and earnest efforts for the prevalence of peace in the region.

"The detention of the political leaders has created a void in erstwhile state's political landscape, leaving masses deeply disturbed and skeptic about the government's future initiatives for peace and development," Chowdhary said.

The PDP general secretary also empathized for the greater participation of party workers in the January 7 function so that "a clear message is sent out to those corridors which are waiting in the wings to undermine PDP's relevance in Jammu and Kashmir's political spectrum".

The spokesman said the meeting passed a unanimous resolution and underlined the need for setting the political leaders including the PDP president free without any further delay.

A similar meeting was held at PDP's Srinagar head office in which senior party leaders and activists including party secretary Abdul Hameed Kosheen and former legislator Mushtaq Ahmad Shah took part and expressed concern over the detention of the political leadership.

The meeting termed the detention of the leaders as "unwarranted, unjustified and unfavourable" for all the peace efforts and confidence building measures that have been taken in the past, the spokesperson said.

He said the participants also held detailed discussions over the preparations being made to ensure hassle-free participation of the PDP supporters, workers and the general masses in the congregational 'Fateha Khawani' at the graveyard of the PDP founder in south Kashmir's Bijbehara town on January 7.

PDP leader Tahir Syed said, "Basically, the meeting, the first since abrogation of Article 370, was called to discuss the party's preparations for the fourth death anniversary of former chief minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed on January 7."