Srinagar, Nov. 6 -- The National Conference leadership on Friday moved to defuse growing discontent within the party, with president Dr Farooq Abdullah assuring dissatisfied legislators that their grievances were genuine and would be addressed, some immediately and others gradually.

The two-hour-long meeting between Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, party president Farooq Abdullah and the dissenting MLAs was held at the latter's Gupkar residence in Srinagar.

Addressing reporters after the meeting, Farooq dismissed reports of a possible split within the National Conference, describing them as baseless.

"The baseless reports being spread that the National Conference is divided are completely false," he said, asserting that the party remaine...