Congress on Monday disapproved of the PDP's decision to stay away from an all-party meeting convened by Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, saying the mainstream parties should rise above politics, help restore peace in the state and isolate the separatists.
"Every political party which considers itself in the mainstream has to rise above politics and help restore peace and isolate the separatists," party spokesman Manish Tewari told reporters in New Delhi.
Leaders of major political parties, including the ruling National Conference, Congress, CPI-M and BJP, attended the all-party meeting from which PDP and JK Panthers Party led by Bhim Singh kept away. It deliberated on the current situation in the Kashmir Valley.
Tewari said that from 1996 onwards, when democratic process was recommenced in the state, democracy has been broad-based and people have come in the mainstream. He said it was incumbent on all political parties wedded to democracy to strengthen the process and "help isolate the separatists and miscreants". PTI
