PDP chief Mehbooba may boycott J&K’s all party meet with PM Modi

New Delhi: Ahead of PM Modi’s meeting with all political parties from Jammu and Kashmir on June 24, sources have said PDP chief and former CM Mehbooba Mufti is likely to skip the talks.

Mehbooba Mufti had earlier confirmed that she had received a call from the Centre for taking part in the meeting in Delhi on June 24. Fourteen leaders of 8 political parties have been invited to the meeting that will be chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss the future course for the union territory.

“Yes, I have received a call but not a formal invitation yet. I am holding a PAC meeting tomorrow to discuss the same, and take a decision on whether to participate or not in the meeting,” she had said.

Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla has telephonically invited leaders of various political parties in Jammu and Kashmir to participate in a meeting to be held at Prime Minister’s residence on Thursday, officials said.

They said telephone calls were made to top leaders of various parties including former Chief Ministers Farooq Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti.

Home Minister Amit Shah along with National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and top security officials had met in the national capital on Friday to discuss various issues regarding Jammu and Kashmir with Lt Governor Manoj Sinha and senior officials.

In August 2019, the Centre abrogated Article 370 that gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir and also bifurcated the erstwhile state into two union territories – Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.

The Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act 2019 was notified by the government on August 9, 2019, paved the way for the creation of two Union Territories – Jammu and Kashmir, which will have a legislature and Ladakh, without it.

The Act provides that the number of seats in the legislative assembly of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir shall be increased from 107 to 114, and delimitation of the constituencies will be determined by the Election Commission.