New Delhi:
National Conference President Farooq Abdullah says his son, Omar "has no intention of stepping down."
Abdullah's clarification comes after he met with both the Prime Minister and Sonia Gandhi, and amid speculation that Omar was considering resigning as Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister.
An all-party delegation will head to Kashmir on Monday to talk to stakeholders there about the current crisis - more than 70 civilians have been killed in the last three months.
A giant meeting chaired by the Prime Minister on Wednesday sought for consensus on the way forward for Kashmir. It was attended by leaders of all major political parties. They decided that delegates from different parties will visit J&K.
Speculation about Omar's resignation began after what was seen as a direct snub by the union government earlier this week, which referred in an official statement to a "governance deficit" in J&K. (
Read:Govt snubs Omar with "governance-deficit remark")
Sources said that Omar had decided not to take any action till the PM's meeting on Wednesday concluded. Omar had been campaigning for the Armed Forces Special Powers Act or AFSPA to be lifted from some parts of his state. This is opposed both by the BJP, and by the Armed Forces and Defence Minister. The government has said there will be no changes made to AFSPA for now.
Rahul Gandhi on Thursday expressed his support for Omar, describing him as "a youngster" and said that the Chief Minister should be given "time and support." Omar thanked Gandhi , saying he is "grateful" for that vote of confidence.
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Kashmir is a tough and sensitive job. We should give Omar some time and support".
Army appeals to Kashmiris
Ahead of the protests called by separatists in the Kashmir Valley, the army has appealed to people to maintain calm, and avoid confronting army garrisons at the instance of Hurriyat leaders.
In its public appeal, the Army says it has always been a 'People's Army' but the Hurriyat is trying to create wedge between the army and the people.
It has appealed to Kashmiris to avoid falling into Hurriyat leaders' 'trap', and says the Hurriyat trying to embroil army in the agitation.
Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani had announced a new protest calendar that includes a plan to protest outside army camps on the September 21.