The policy planning group of the Congress for Jammu and Kashmir will visit all three regions of the state—Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh—for an on the spot assessment of the situation after Eid.
Former prime minister Manmohan Singh, who heads the group, will be accompanied Ghulam Nabi Azad, Ambika Soni and others.
The group was formed in April after the bypoll for Anantnag Lok Sabha constituency, in which the Congress was considered as favourite, was postoned following the killing of eight civilians during the Srinagar-Budgam Lok Sabha bypoll on April 9.
The Election Commission of India canceled the elections in Anantnag after the PDP candidate for Anantnag and brother of Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, Mufti Tassaduq Hussian, appealed to the ECI for cancellation of the polls in view of the possible violence and civilian killings like Budgam.
The PDP's decision to get the elections canceled was understood by most in Kashmir as smart move to save its candidate from defeat. His loss would have spoiled the PDP's plans to usher the junior Mufti into politics and strengthen the grip of Muftis on the party.
''The group will hold discussions in Jammu on September 10 and 11 and in Kashmir on September 16 and 17,'' J&K PCC chief G.A. Mir told THE WEEK.'' The leaders will then visit Ladakh and hold discussions there.''
Mir said the group is visiting Jammu and Kashmir at the request of state leaders. ''We had two rounds of discussions in Delhi and then we requested the next session be held in Jammu and Kashmir, and they agreed.''
Mir said the purpose of the visit is to interact with the party leadership in the state and a cross section of people in all three regions.
The dates for Ladakh meeting will be announced later.
''We would appreciate if the leaders of like-minded parties also meet the central leadership of the Congress,'' Mir said.
He said anybody who wants to meet the Congress leadership is welcome. ''Some of our party workers used to find it difficult to travel all the way to Delhi for meetings. This time they can discuss whatever they want with the Congress leaders in Srinagar and Jammu.''
The Congress leaders, sources said, will also collect feedback about the working of the state leaders and replacing Mir with Tariq Hamid Karra who joined the party after quitting the PDP last year in protest against the civilian killings and blinding of protesters by pellets. Kara also resigned from Parliament.
Sources said senior leaders of the Congress will also meet NC leaders Farooq Abdullah and Omar Abdullah and others like M.Y. Tarigami of the CPI(M) and Engineer Rashid of Awami Ittehad Party.
Given the uneasy relationship between the PDP and BJP, the Congress is working on firming up the alliance of like-minded parties to take on the BJP in case there are snap polls in the state.
The Congress will also collect feedback from all three regions on the move against the Article 35 in the Supreme Court.
The party is not in favour of abrogating the Article which is an essential part of the Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru's legacy and was issued by the president after 1952 Delhi Agreement between Nehru and Sheikh Abdullah.
