Committed to restoring statehood to J&K, PM Modi assures Gupkar leaders

In the first outreach initiative after the abrogation of Article 370, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Thursday, told the all party meeting on Jammu and Kashmir that he wants to remove 'Dilli ki Duri' as well as 'Dil Ki Duri'.

The message was clear: the BJP-led Centre wants to build bridges with the political parties, former chief ministers and leaders to usher in democratic process in J&K. The contentious issues of statehood and delimitation came up for discussion, and so did the elephant in the room, Pakistan.

PM Modi said the Centre was committed to restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, but added that first  delimitation and election needed to be held in the Union territory to revive the political process. He, however, did not specify by when the statehood would be restored.

The political leaders from Jammu and Kashmir, including senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad, PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti and National Conference leaders, unanimously protested against the way the BJP government bifurcated the state by not taking the political parties and elected representatives on board through consultations and went ahead with its decision in a unilateral way. There was also unanimity on the fact that abrogation of special status of Jammu and Kashmir is a sub judice matter and the legality of the Centre’s decision hinges on what the apex court has to say.

The Centre, meanwhile, assured the J&K leaders that assembly elections will be held soon after delimitation. However, majority of the leaders demanded that the exercise should be postponed and complained about the manner it was being conducted.

Azad is said to have told the PM that keeping in view the ceasefire with Pakistan and the decline in cross border incursions, it is an opportune time to hold assembly polls. The mention of Pakistan may not be palatable, but it is an unavoidable issue since the priority of the political leadership is peaceful conduct of assembly  polls in J&K now, said sources.

The Congress leader also demanded restoration of statehood to J&K, protection of the historic domicile rules on land and jobs, rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandits and  release of political prisoners.

Azad told reporters after the meeting that home minister spoke before the prime minister and he said that they are committed to the restoration of the statehood to J&K, but first there should be the delimitation of assembly constituencies followed by elections. “He( Shah) said the process of delimitation got delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic,’’ the Congress leader added.  

Asked whether he was satisfied by  the assurance by the home minister, Azad said they would be satisfied the day statehood is restored. “ Everybody demands that a full fledged statehood should be resorted to Jammu and Kashmir,” he added

He said the prime minister told  them that the Centre wanted to invite them for a meeting last year but due Covid-19, he didn’t deem it fit. “PM said this is the biggest meeting he has held after a window of opportunity arose,’’ he said.

“We also demanded the release of all those people from Jammu and Kashmir who have been arrested before and after the downgrading of the former state to a Union Territory should be released. We are not demanding the release of militants but people political prisoners," Azad said.

Azad said bureaucracy in itself cannot be a substitute for government.

Altaf Bukhari of J&K Apni Party said the discussions were cordial and delimitation was discussed.

Sources said Modi patiently heard the suggestions and inputs from leaders and expressed happiness that all participants shared their frank and honest views.

“It was an open discussion which revolved around building a better future for Kashmir,” said government sources. The main focus of the meeting was to strengthen the democratic process, they said.

Modi said the government is committed to the democratic process in J&K. He stressed that the holding assembly elections, just like the successful conduct of DDC elections, is a priority.
 
It was discussed that elections can happen soon after delimitation and by and large most participants expressed willingness for it, said government sources.
 
Modi also emphasised the need to strengthen democracy at the grassroots and work together with the people of J&K to ensure their upliftment.
 
He is learnt to have expressed happiness on the commitment to the Constitution and democracy espoused by the leaders of J&K.

Modi said even one death in J&K is painful and it is the collective duty to protect the younger generation.

He also stressed the need to give opportunities to youth of J&K, who can contribute a lot to the growth of the country.

The developmental targets achieved by J&K were discussed in detail along with emphasis on implementation of pro-people initiatives.
 
The PM is learnt to have said when people experience corruption free governance, it inspires trust among the people, and people also extend their cooperation to the administration and this is visible in J&K today.
 
Modi reportedly said there would be political differences, but everyone should work in national interest so that the people of J&K benefit.

He also stressed that an atmosphere of safety and security needs to be ensured for all sections of society in J&K . It is in this context that he said that he wants to remove 'Dilli ki Duri' as well as 'Dil Ki Duri'.

Both PDP and NC said they reject the removal of special status and bifurcation of J&K.

“We told the prime minister that we don't stand with it on what was done on August 5, 2019. We are not ready to accept it. We will not take law in our hand but fight this in court,” Omar Abdullah said.

He also said there has been breach of trust between the state and Centre. “It is Centre's duty to restore it,” Omar is learnt to have said in the meeting .

Mehbooba Mufti said the people of J&K are facing a lot of difficulties after August 5 2019.  “They are angry, upset and emotionally shattered. They feel humiliated,” she said .

“I have told the prime minister that people of J&K don't accept the manner in which Article 370 was abrogated unconstitutionally, illegally and immorally,” she said after the meeting.

About the restoration of Article 370, most parties said since the matter is in the Supreme Court, they would prefer to wait for the decision of the court.  

Union home minister Amit Shah is learnt to have assured all political leaders that there will be participation of all political stakeholders In delimitation process .

“Our government will work to strengthen the panchyati raj system In J&K,” Shah said .

The home minister also made a presentation of the record of development in the state in the last two years since the abrogation of Article 370. Interestingly, he drew comparisons with previous years in front of the former chief ministers.

Muzaffar Beigh, former deputy chief minister, and leader of J&K People’s Conference, said everybody demands the restoration of statehood. “The prime minister responded that first delimitation should take place and the other issues that have been raised will be considered,’’ he told reporters, adding, "But directly the prime minister didn’t say anything about statehood.”

Sources said the J&K leaders also demanded constitutional protection to land and jobs for the residents of J&K.

“ It was demanded that a bill should be passed in the Parliament to that effect,’’ sources said.

The meeting is unlikely to please people in Kashmir as the Centre has been non-committal to the restoration of the statehood.

Observers believe the meeting was called to seek support of the J&K leaders to normalise changes made by the Centre to J&K after the events of August 5, 2019.

Jammu and Kashmir lost its statehood and special status after the Centre revoked Article 370 of the Constitution and the passing of J&K Reorganisation Act on August 5, 2019. The Centre had imposed a lockdown and communication blockade to prevent a backlash against the move.

More than 50 J&K politicians including three former chief ministers Farooq Abdullah, his son Omar Abdullah, and Mehbooba Mufti were destined for months.   

Modi had invited 14 J&K leaders including the leaders of People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD).

The  PAGD is an alliance of five  J&K regional parties that seeks the restoration of  Article 370 and statehood to Jammu and Kashmir. The forum is led by three -time J&K chief minister and sitting MP Farooq Abdullah of the NC, PDP president and former J&K Chief Minister is the vice president and CPI(M) leader M.Y. Tarigami as spokesman of the PAGD.