Delhi-J&K talks: Ice Melts ; PM Modi to hold meeting with J&K political leaders on June 24

Jammu, June 19, 2021: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will chair a meeting with 14 political leaders of Jammu and Kashmir, including four former chief ministers of the erstwhile state, in the national capital on June 24.

This is the first such exercise after the Centre’s decision to abrogate Article 370 – a provision that gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir – and its bifurcation into union territories in August 2019.

Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla reached out to the leaders of Jammu and Kashmir and invited them to a meeting at PM Modi’s residence to discuss the future course of action for the Union Territory.

The leaders invited to the meeting include four former chief ministers – National Conference’s Farooq Abdullah and his son Omar Abdullah, senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad and PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti.

Four former deputy chief ministers of the erstwhile state – Congress leader Tara Chand, People’s Conference leader Muzaffar Hussain Baig, and BJP leaders Nirmal Singh and Kavinder Gupta are among others who have been invited to the meeting.

CPI(M) leader Mohammad Yusuf Tarigami, Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party (JKAP) chief Altaf Bukhari, People’s Conference’s Sajjad Lone, JK Congress chief GA Mir, BJP’s Ravidner Raina and Panthers Party leader Bhim Singh have also received invitations. for the meeting.

Political leaders have been asked to submit a COVID-19 negative report.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah and other central leaders are also likely to be present in the meeting reports PTK.

KNO adds that for the first time since abrogation of Article 370 on August 5, 2019, New Delhi has reached out to J&K’s mainstream camp with a formal invitation for participation in the crucial meeting to be chaired by Prime Minister Narendera Modi on June 24 in Delhi.

National Conference, PDP, Congress, Peoples Conference, CPI(M), ANC confirmed to news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that they have received formal invitation from New Delhi for participation in the important meeting on June 24 in New Delhi. Sources said that the Delhi session to be chaired by Prime Minister Narendera Modi will commence at 3 pm while Union Home Minister Amit Shah co-chair the meet.

NC chief Dr Farooq Abdullah said that he has received an invitation for June 24 meeting. “We have convened meeting tomorrow to discuss the invitation and to frame an agenda if we decide to participate in the same,” the NC chief told KNO.

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti has also received an invitation from New Delhi. “I got a phone call from Delhi asking me to participate in June 24 meeting,” she said.

PDP spokesman Suhail Bukhari said that the party’s political affairs committee (PAC)

Sources said that Congress chief Ghulam Ahmed Mir too has been invited for the meeting. Similarly, Peoples Conference president Sajad Gani Lone has also been invited to participate in the meeting. Centre has also invited senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad. J&K PCC spokesman Ravinder Sharma said that they will discuss the invite and take a call on the same within two days.

CPI (M) J&K Secretary M Y Tarigami said that he got phone call from Union Home Secretary for his participation in June 24 meeting in New Delhi. J&K Apni Party chief Altaf Bukhari said that solution to J&K’s problems lies at New Delhi. “We openly claim that we have a relation with Delhi. Solutions to J&K’s problems lie at New Delhi not Islamabad, New York or London. We too have received an invitation from New Delhi for June 24 meeting. Delhi’s invitation to J&K’s political parties is a welcome development. My question to all the political parties is they called us King’s party, now who is king’s party?,” Bukhari told KNO in an obvious reference to NC and PDP. Bukhari said there were three main issues restoration of statehood, security of jobs and security of land. “With God’s grace and support of PM Modi and HM Amit Shah we have managed security of jobs and security of land and I believe within a year or so, statehood will also be restored.”

Sources said that besides the party presidents, New Delhi has also invited former chief ministers and deputy chief ministers of J&K. Meanwhile, BJP’s JK unit head Ravinder Raina has also been invited for the meeting. The June 24 meeting will be first since abrogation of J&K’s special status on August 5, 2019. The Center’s decision had created a political vacuum in the UT as majority of the mainstream leaders, who would participate in the Delhi meet, served detention post article 370 abrogation. A senior NC leader while reacting on the Delhi’s decision of inviting them said it seems that Centers wants to bridge the gap with J&K’s mainstream leaders, who remained cut-off from it since August 5, 2019. “There has been a great sense of insecurity among all mainstream leaders and the move seems to be aimed at building bridges again. We believe it’s a good move but it would be premature to talk much on the June 24 move and it’s better to wait for the meeting first,” he said, wishing not to be named—(KNO)

Possible June 24 Meeting Agenda: Highlights

Discussion on J&K’s Development post Article 370 abrogation

Successful DDC elections/empowerment of panchayats in J&K

Post Article 370 rollback scenario in J&K

Delimitation Exercise

Restoration of statehood

Assembly elections

Constitutional safeguards

Protection of land laws (source KNO)