Congress wants consensus on Kashmir issue during the all party meeting

New Delhi : India’s ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA) led by the Congress wants a consensus on the Jammu and Kashmir issue during the all party meeting later on Wednesday, the Union Home Ministry sources said.

The Government also wants maximum number of political parties’ participation in the meeting where the question of withdrawal of AFSPA or the Armed Forces (Special Power) Act will be discussed, even as some oppositions, including the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), want the act to be in force in the Kashmir Valley.

The meeting, to be chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, will take a decision on a Kashmir package, including withdrawal of AFSPA, measures to control violence in the Valley and dialogue with separatists, the Home Ministry said.

Defence minister A K Antony on Tuesday said, “Before we take a final decision, it is better to involve everyone.”

The ruling National Conference in J & K decided to send a five-member delegation led by party president Farooq Abdullah to the all-party meeting to reiterate its stand on withdrawal of AFSPA and restoration of autonomy to Jammu and Kashmir.

The government on Tuesday had rejected internal differences over the contentious AFSPA and expressed confidence that a solution will be found, even as the BJP accused the government of placating secessionists in the Valley.

The Cabinet Committee on Security, on Monday, had deferred a decision on withdrawing the AFSPA from certain parts of Jammu and Kashmir, after escalating violence that claimed 88 lives since June 11.