Srinagar, June 26 (KNS):  Chairman of the Centre for Peace and Progress and notes social activist O.P. Shah on Wednesday said that early elections and restoration of statehood is the demand of the cross section of the people from all shades of political spectrum in J&K and other groups.

Shah who arrived here on June 19  said he met a cross sections of people during his week long stay  including Farooq Abdullah, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Ghulam Hassan Mir,  ANC senior vice president Muzaffar Shah, Muhammad Yousuf Tarigami and Agha Hassan, family of Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Shabir Shah, pandit community representatives, prominent lawyers, doctors and professors besides civil society activists.

Speaking exclusively to KNS, he also said during his meetings,  early J&K Assembly elections, restoration of statehood, improvement in Indo-Pak relations, respect for all religions and sects was the demand of almost everyone.

He also said that he participated in a discussion on J&K-The way Forward  yesterday in Budgam district.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel

"Spoke on Early Assembly Elections,Restoration of Statehood,Improving Indo-Pak Relations,Significance of Secularism in democratic India and Relevance of Gandhism in contemporary India,"

According to KNS correspondent, Shah also updated about his meetings on X: Met Dr Farooq Abdullah at his residence in Srinagar yesterday and had  useful discussion with him on J&K-The way Forward. Also met several intellectuals and activists from different parts of J&k . They all desire immediate state assembly elections and restoration of Statehood."

"Met yesterday former minister G H  MIR &several activists and intellectuals from kulgam& Srinagar. Almost every one  desires early assembly elections in J&k and the restoration of Statehood. They have also expressed their reservations about abrogation of articles 35a and 370," he said in another post on X. (KNS)