Priority to strengthen grassroots of democracy in J&K, says PM

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday chaired an all-party meeting with the political leaders from Jammu & Kashmir in New Delhi. The meeting was attended by leaders from various political parties including National conference leaders Dr. Farooq Abdullah and Omar Abdullah, Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad, PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti, Home Minister Amit Shah, Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, BJP Jammu and Kashmir President Ravinder Raina, and People’s Conference President Sajjad Lone. PM Modi said that our priority is to strengthen grassroots democracy in J&K. Delimitation has to happen at a quick pace so that polls can happen and J&K gets an elected Government that gives strength to J&K’s development trajectory.

They were assured that the Centre is committed to granting statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, a demand unanimously raised by all political parties of J&K. "We kept five demands in the meeting- grant statehood soon, conduct Assembly elections to restore democracy, rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandits in J&K, all political detainees should be released and on domicile rules," Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad said after the three-hour meeting concluded. "The Home Minister said the government is committed to granting statehood to Jammu and Kashmir," the Congress leader said.

The main focus of the meeting was to strengthen the democratic process. PM said that we are fully committed to the democratic process in J&K. He stressed that the holding assembly elections just like the successful conduct of District Development Council elections is a priority," government sources said. PM Modi said that he wants to remove Dilli ki Duri as well as Dil Ki Duri. Home Minister Amit Shah in his tweet, said that Issues related to delimitation and statehood were also discussed. 

We are committed to ensure all round development of J&K.

The future of Jammu and Kashmir was discussed and the delimitation exercise and peaceful elections are important milestones in restoring statehood as promised in parliament.

— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) June 24, 2021

People's Conference leader Sajjad Lone said the meeting was cordial. "We came out quite positive that hopefully there will be some delivery for the people of Jammu and Kashmir," Sajjad Lone said. J&K Apni Party's Altaf Bukhari said PM Modi heard everyone and asked all to participate in the delimitation process. "We have been assured that this is the roadmap towards elections," Altaf Bukhari said. Muzaffar Baig, chairman of the People's Conference said, "We were all in agreement that we must work for democracy and development of J&K. The PM Modi listened very patiently. He was reassuring and responded to all points raised in the meeting." The crucial meeting with 14 political leaders of Jammu and Kashmir, including four former chief ministers, to chalk out the future course of action in the union territory.

The meeting is the first between the Centre and mainstream Jammu and Kashmir politicians after the abrogation of Article 370 and the division of the erstwhile state into two union territories in August 2019.The four former chief ministers of Jammu and Kashmir who participated in the discussions were Farooq Abdullah, Ghulam Nabi Azad, Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti.Responding to the all-party meeting, senior BJP leader Ram Madhav tweeted, "The fact that J&K meeting has gone on for more than three hours is in itself an indication of its success."

The fact that J&K meeting has gone on for more than 3 hrs is in itself an indication of its success.

— Ram Madhav (@rammadhav_rss) June 24, 2021

During the meeting, parties part of the alliance raised the issue of Article 370 and Article 35A. However, since the matter is before the Supreme Court, no discussion was held on this.