As Kashmir Martyrs’ Day passed off peacefully on Tuesday, the Omar Abdullah government has been relieved of some of the strains set off by the recent turbulence and may now proceed with the option of asking the Army to return to barracks.
About seven columns of Army were last week placed at the disposal of the state government which positioned it in the peripheries of Srinagar city and later used it for staging flag marches occasionally as a “deterrent” in the wake of widespread disturbances during which four youth including a female were killed in police and CRPF firings and beating. The chief minister had on Sunday said that the Army may be sent back after July 13, Martyrs’ Day in Kashmir.
Mr Abdullah on Tuesday evening called on governor N.N. Vohra at Raj Bhavan here for wide-ranging discussions, particularly focusing on the recent developments in the state and security management issues. An official spokesperson said that the chief minister briefed the governor about the deliberations of the all-party meet held on Monday and in the light of the recommendations made by it discussed future action plan.
The all-party meet called by the chief minister had decided to meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to seek an inclusive political package as a major enterprise to address the issues in the state. It also asked for holding an independent commission into the recent killings.
Separately, the National Conference-Congress Coordination Committee also met here on Tuesday and discussed various matters mainly related to the recent developments in the state. The meeting was attended besides the chief minister by J&K PCC chief Prof Saifuddin Soz, deputy chief minister Mr Tara Chand, finance minister Mr Abdur Rahim Rather, seniors leaders, Mr Mangat Ram Sharma (Congress) and Chaudhary Muhammad Ramzan (NC).
While the chief minister and other government functionaries as well as the security authorities may have heaved a sigh of relief after the Martyrs Day passed off peacefully, the pressure on the government has not been taken off fully, analysts here say.
The security lockdown in Srinagar areas and some other parts of the Valley pushed the people indoors once again and the separatists failed to hold planned rallies and protests coinciding with the day but they are not crestfallen.
The Hurriyat Conference faction headed by jailed separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani has reiterated the call for mass protests and sit-ins in the Valley on July 14 and 15 and a Batamallo “chalo” march on Friday.