Cong backs Omar over handling of Kashmir situation

Congress today backed Jammu and Kashmir Government's handling of the situation in the Valley and asked all stakeholders in the state to "walk the extra mile" to bring normalcy there.

Congress on Saturday backed Jammu and Kashmir Government's handling of the situation in the Valley and asked all stakeholders in the state to "walk the extra mile" to bring normalcy there.

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"It's a tough situation and the coalition government is doing whatever it can to bring normalcy there. This state of turmoil obviously impacts governance," party spokesperson Manish Tewari said.

Therefore, it is imperative that all stakeholders, who believe in democratic polity and are part of the national mainstream, must walk the extra mile to ensure that separatist forces supported from across the border are defeated, he said.

Asked how does the party view the current turmoil in the state, Tewari said that Congress has always maintained that the Jammu and Kashmir has gone through repeated cycles of violence "essentially instigated by those forces, who do not want peace and normalcy to return to the state".

Barring Sopore and Pulwama, curfew was lifted temporarily in the Kashmir Valley to allow people to offer prayers at the Hazratbal shrine in Srinagar on Friday night.

Curfew was clamped on Tuesday and army moved in to assist the civil administration in maintaining law and order after violent protests shook the valley.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has convened an all-party meeting in Srinagar on Monday to discuss the present situation.