PDP to take part in budget session in JK Assembly

Srinagar, Feb 25 (PTI) Opposition Peoples DemocraticParty (PDP), which had boycotted the summer session of theJammu and Kashmir Assembly, will take part in the forthcomingbudget session, party president Mehbooba Mufti said today.

The PDP plans to corner the Omar-Abdullah-led governmenton various issues during the budget session, she told PTI.

Mehmooba has called a meeting of PDP''s legislators onSunday to discuss the strategy for the forthcoming budgetsession of the state Assembly, which begins on February 28.

Asked about the issues to be raised during theforthcoming session, Mehbooba said, "There are so many issueslike the ground situation in Kashmir, continued harassment anddetention of youth, lack of development, unemployment andbackdoor appointments during the present regime. But, astrategy will be finalised after the Legislature party meet onSunday."

The party had boycotted the summer session which was heldsoon after a turbulent summer marked by violent protests inthe Kashmir Valley, which left over 110 persons dead.

"Not taking part in the summer session was to registerour protest against the way the state government handled thelaw and order situation and to express our solidarity with thepeople of Kashmir," Mehbooba told PTI.

"There was no point in taking part in the proceedings ofthe Assembly when the people, who are the fountainhead ofpower for the legislature, were held hostage by the stategovernment," she said.

PDP has 21 MLAs in the 87-member state Assembly.