New Delhi, Jun 24 (FN Bureau) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said his government wants to conclude the delimitation exercise and hold polls in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir for strengthening democracy and bringing in development. “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(sic),” Mr Modi wrote on his official Twitter account. The assertion from the Prime Minister came after a three-and-a-half-hour long meeting at his official residence in the National Capital with leaders of mainstream J&K political parties, the first ever since reading down Article 370 and bifurcating the state of Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories–J&K and Ladakh– in August 2019.
The Prime Minister was heard telling the leaders that ‘Dilli ki Duuri’ (distance with Delhi) should not become ‘Dil ki Duuri’ (distance of hearts), according to sources. Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party leader Altaf Bukhari told the media here after the meeting that Mr Modi is willing to conduct the Assembly elections and return the statehood to the erstwhile state but refrained from discussing the special status, as the matter is sub-judice. “There was no discussion on the Article 370 as the issue is pending before the Supreme Court”, Mr Bukhari said. The Centre wants to conclude the ongoing delimitation exercise in J&K before holding the elections. However, National Conference vice-president Omar Abdullah said the Centre should reverse the roadmap by first restoring the statehood and then holding the delimitation exercise. “The people want that the statehood of J&K should be restored immediately. It should not be a halfhearted state,” he said.
Senior Congress leader and former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Ghulam Nabi Azad said his party has put forward five demands — restoration of statehood, conduct of Assembly elections, release of political prisoners, rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandits and reserving the land and jobs for the locals. Mr Azad said he asked Mr Modi to conduct the polls immediately as the atmosphere is currently peaceful and people have shown their commitment towards democracy by actively participating in the District Development Council polls conducted last year. People’s Democratic Party chief Mehbooba Mufti, a vocal critic of the Centre’s policies, said that she told the Prime Minister that people of J&K are emotionally hurt, angry and feel humiliated by the ‘illegal, immoral and unconstitutional’ way in which the special status was taken away by the Centre. Ms Mufti, the former chief minister and once a BJP ally, said she and her party will continue to fight for the restoration of special status, no matter how much time it takes, as the special provision was given to J&K by the Centre itself.
She, however, appreciated the government’s efforts to cool down the Line of Control and International Border through backchannel talks with Pakistan. Most of the leaders told the media that the meeting was held peacefully in a cordial environment and the Prime Minister all ears to the appeals and grievances. The meeting was also attended by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister P K Mishra and Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla. “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 (sic),” Mr Shah tweeted after the meeting. On June 19, the Centre sent a formal invitation to 14 leaders of several mainstream parties of Jammu and Kashmir for the meeting in the National Capital with the Prime Minister.