The top leaders of opposition parties in the country are “very soon” coming to Kashmir to invite political leaders, including separatists and civil society groups, for the proposed Kashmir Conclave being held in New Delhi.CPI (M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury told KNS that the leaders of the opposition parties are meetingon Friday to discuss the leaders and the future roadmap of the conclave.Yechury told KNS that the leaders who arriving in the Valley to extend invitations include him, JD (U) leader Sharad Yadav, former BJP minister Yashwant Sinha, senior Congress leader and MP Ghulam Nabi Azad.“The leaders will extend invitations to the prominent political leaders to the conclave. We (opposition leaders) are holding a meeting tomorrow to discuss and finalise the conclave,” Yechury said.Another political leader associated with the Conclave told KNS that separatists, civil society groups and intelligentsia are being invited for the conclave.
Besides the opposition leaders, ruling BJP leaders are also being invited for the conclave.Holding of ‘Kashmir Conclave’ has been floated by opposition leaders in India at a time when BJP-led NDA is refusing to hold dialogue on Kashmir issue and using “stringent” approach to deal with the prevailing fragile situation.Yadav on Wednesday met former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for the second time in recent days to discuss the proposed conclave.Yadav and BJP leader Yashwant Sinha and Yadav met on Sunday to chalk out plans to bring together different groups working on Kashmir for the conclave.Welcoming holding of the conclave, former chief minister and MP from Srinagar parliament seat Dr Farooq Abdullah said to solve Kashmir issue “good wishes” of all parties to work towards the political settlement of this problem.The reluctance by the ruling BJP to initiate political dialogue on Kashmir has united the opposition parties across the country to pitch for resolving the prevailing situation in the Valley and start a process to resolve the issue.Earlier, the Congress party set up a ‘policy planning group’ on Kashmir headed by former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Interestingly, Singh is also involved in the Kashmir Conclave. (KNS)