PM urged to call all-party meet on PDP demands

New Delhi, Mar 21: The Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Forum today urged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to convene an all-party meeting to discuss demands raised by state coalition partner PDP and take a ''positive'' decision which would provide relief to the people of Kashmir.

''The JKDF appeals to the Prime Minister not to outright reject the demands of demilitarisation and repeal of Armed Forces Special Power Act,'' JKDF president Bushan Bazaz said.

He said the outright rejection of the demands will also not be in the interest of the ongoing peace process.

Mr Bazaz said the all-party meeting must discuss the issue as well as the security concerns of the country.

The PDP, the junior ally in the coalition, has threatened to pull out of the Jammu and Kashmir government if its demands were not met.

PDP patron and former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed is expected to meet the Prime Minister to discuss the PDP's demands of troop reduction, repeal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) and vacation of agricultural and horticultural land and civilian buildings by the security forces.

UNI