Former J&k CM Omar Abdullah, aftera meeting with Governor Satya Pal Malik this afternoon, asked the centre tomake a statement in parliament on the state’s special status designation.Meeting reporters after the meeting, Mr Abdullah said the governor had assuredhim special status would not be scrapped, but insisted that it was thegovernment that needed to clarify the its position on Article 35A.

“He (the governor) assured us that there was no movement on(repealing) Article 370 or Article 35A or delimitation (of constituencies inthe state). However, the governor is not the final word on Jammu and Kashmir.The Government of India is. So we want to hear from the government inparliament,” Mr Abdullah said.Article 35A allows the J&K legislature to define who is and who is not a permanent resident of the state.It also grants residents of special rights and privileges, such as the right toown property in the state.

Omar Abdullah also expressed concern over the build-up oftroops in the Kashmir Valley; the centre moved 25,000 troops to the region onThursday, less than a week after 10,000 soldiers were dispatched.

The governor said troop movements were the result of aserious security situation in the state and pointed to yesterday’s AmarnathYatra travel advisory, which came shortly after the Army said terrorists backedby the Pakistan army were planning attacks.

“What they are saying does make sense when you look atthings in an isolated manner. Yes… troops are rotated. Yes… the current columnsof troops have been here for over six months. So what they are saying does makesense. But collectively along with these orders, it has caused some distress,”Mr Adullah said.

“It is in nobody’s interest to see a tensed Jammu andKashmir. It is in everyone’s interest to see a peaceful Jammu and Kashmir and Iam sure the government wants that to,” he added.

Earlier, Omar Abdullah and a National Conference delegationmet Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The delegation had called on the PrimeMinister to refrain from upsetting the fragile situation in the Kashmir Valley.The delegation also asked PM Modi to hold state polls by year-end.