Abdullahs meet Mehbooba, invite her to Gupkar signatories’ meet today

National Conference leaders Farooq and Omar Abdullah visited former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti’s house, a day after PDP leader was released from detention, to invite her to a meeting of the signatories to the Gupkar declaration on Thursday.

“My father and I called on Mehbooba Mufti sahiba this afternoon to enquire about her well being after her release from detention. She has kindly accepted Farooq sahib’s invitation to join a meeting of the Gupkar Declaration signatories tomorrow afternoon at our residence,” Omar posted on Twitter.

In response, Mehbooba tweeted: “It was nice of you & Farooq sahib to come home. It gave me courage listening to him. I am sure together we all can change things for the better”.

In the evening, People’s Conference president Sajad Lone also paid a courtesy call to Mehbooba at her residence.

The Gupkar Declaration was issued on August 4, 2019, after a meeting of Kashmir’s mainstream political parties at Farooq Abdullah’s Gupkar residence. The signatories unanimously resolved to stay united to protect to “defend the identity, autonomy and special status of Jammu and Kashmir”. A day later, i.e. on August 5, J&K’s special status was scrapped and the state was broken up into two Union Territories.

The Thursday meeting will be the first occasion all the signatories of the Gupkar Declaration will meet since the bifurcation in August 2019.

Also read: Will continue to oppose Article 370 abrogation, Mehbooba says after release

On August 22 this year, the mainstream political parties in the Valley issued a joint declaration reiterating their commitment to fight for restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status. Mehbooba, who was under detention then, had given the go-ahead for the resolution over a telephone call with Farooq Abdullah.

Meanwhile, Mehbooba also met her party leaders on Wednesday. “It was essentially a courtesy call as we were meeting after a very long time. The informal discussion veered around to the political situation of Jammu and Kashmir,” a senior leader of the PDP, who was present at the meeting told The Indian Express.

The PDP leaders are aware of the “long and tough” battle ahead. “We were of the opinion that there are no power goals and we all have to strive together,” a leader said.

Mehbooba Mufti has announced a press conference on Friday.