Army to stay in Kashmir till next week: Omar

“We will review the situation on July 13 and then take a decision on the Army deployment or withdrawal,” he said while describing the deployment of the Army as a step in the right direction.

July 13 is being observed as martyrs’ day in Kashmir by the government and separatists in memory of the persons killed in firing on protestors outside Srinagar Central Jail on that day in 1931 during the Dogra regime.

The hardline faction of Hurriyat Conference led by Syed Ali Shah Geelani has called for a march from Martyrs’ Graveyard to the Eidgah on July 13 (Tuesday). It has also called for a general strike on Sunday and protests on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

Meanwhile, Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy and National Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah returned here on Friday from London. On his return to New Delhi, he met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Union Home Minister P Chidambaram. Abdullah’s absence in Kashmir during the crises had given rise to reports about the differences between him and his son Omar.

Omar said the NC president arrived here to attend the 11th death anniversary function of his mother Begum Akbar Jehan. The chief minister denied the reports that he was resigning and paving the way for his father to become the chief minister. The chief minister telephoned PDP president Mehbooba Mufti requesting her to join the all-party meeting convened by him on Monday. The PDP, however,  has decided not to attend the meeting.