BJP, PDP leaders discuss Kashmir unrest

Jammu, April 21 (IANS) The leaders of Jammu and Kashmir’s ruling PDP-BJP coalition on Friday discussed the prevailing situation in the valley which has been on the boil since the Srinagar Lok Sabha by-poll earlier this month.

The meeting was held at the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) headquarters in Jammu.

BJP’s National General Secretary Ram Madhav and senior leaders of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), including Finance Minister Haseeb Drabu, attended the meeting.

BJP leader Avinash Rai Khanna and state BJP chief Sat Sharma were also present in the meeting where a discussion was held on the way forward to bring peace to the troubled Valley.

Divergent voices have emerged from the two ruling coalition partners about handling of the situation in Kashmir ever since the April 9 Srinagar by-poll violence and the killing of eight persons in security forces firing. A re-poll on April 13 for 38 seats also saw violence and the killing of another youth in Srinagar. Protests have also rocked colleges in the valley, leading their closure.

The BJP also sought feedback about the law and order situation from top officials and on dealing with the tense situation on the ground, sources said.