Delimitation exercise in J-K has to happen quickly so that polls take place, says PM
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said the ongoing delimitation exercise in Jammu and Kashmir has to happen quickly so that polls can be held to install an elected government that gives strength to its development trajectory.
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. pic.twitter.com/AEyVGQ1NGy
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 24, 2021
Did not get any concrete assurances from PM Modi, HM Shah: Tarigami
The Prime Minister and Home Minister heard our concerns, demands and aspirations today but we did not get any concrete assurances from them: , CPI(M) leader Yousuf Tarigami
Assembly polls in J&K after delimitation of constituencies, PM Modi tells all-party meeting
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday told a group of leaders from Jammu and Kashmir that assembly elections there will be held after the completion of the ongoing delimitation exercise, People’s Conference leader Muzaffar Hussain Baig said after a crucial meeting to chalk out the future course of action in the union territory.
Delimitation, holding of polls in J-K important milestones in restoring statehood: says Shah
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday said the delimitation exercise and holding of peaceful elections in Jammu and Kashmir are important milestones in restoring statehood as promised in Parliament.
Restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood must to rebuild trust: Farooq Abdullah
National Conference president and former chief minister Farooq Abdullah on Thursday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to work towards building trust in Jammu and Kashmir by ensuring that its full statehood is restored.
People of J&K are in pain since August 5: Mehbooba
“People of J&K are in pain since 5 August 2019. They are angry and feel humiliated. The people of J&K do not accept the unconstitutional abrogation of Article 370”: Former Chief minister of J&K Mehbooba Mufti.
The future of Jammu and Kashmir was discussed: Amit Shah
Today’s meeting on Jammu and Kashmir was conducted in a very cordial environment. Everyone expressed their commitment to democracy and the constitution. It was stressed to strengthen the democratic process in Jammu and Kashmir. 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:
HM said the govt is committed to granting statehood to J&K: Congress Leader Azad
“We kept 5 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,” said Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad.
Azad further added that Home Minister said the government is committed to granting statehood to Jammu and Kashmir. All leaders demanded full-fledged statehood
Meeting Held In Very Cordial Manner: Sajad Lone
The meeting was held in a very cordial manner. We came out quite positive that hopefully there will be some delivery for the people of Jammu and Kashmir: People’s Conference leader Sajad Lone.
Talks Held In Good Atmosphere: Altaf Bukhari
The talks were held in a good atmosphere today. The Prime Minister heard our issues of all leaders. PM said that election process will begin when delimitation process finishes. The PM asked all to participate in the delimitation process. We have been assured that this is the roadmap towards elections. PM also said that we are committed to the restoration of statehood: J&K Apni Party’s Altaf Bukhari.
Everyone at meeting raised demand for restoration of statehood of J&K: Muzaffar Baig
Meeting was very cordial and very positive. Almost everyone at meeting chaired by PM Modi raised demand for restoration of statehood of Jammu and Kashmir: People’s Conference leader Muzzafar Hussain Baig.
Crucial meeting on Jammu and Kashmir chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi ends.
PM Meets J&K Leaders To Chalk Out Future Course Of Action
In the government’s first outreach to Jammu and Kashmir’s political leadership in almost two years, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday held a crucial meeting with 14 leaders, including four former chief ministers, to chalk out the future course of action in the union territory.
The prime minister, accompanied by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir Manoj Sinha, received the leaders from eight parties, including the National Conference, the PDP, the BJP and the Congress, at his residence.
This is the first interaction between the Central leadership and the mainstream parties since August 5, 2019, when the Centre revoked Jammu and Kashmir’s special status under Article 370 and bifurcated it into two union territories, Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.
Minister of State in PMO Jitendra Singh, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister P K Mishra and Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla were among those who attended the meeting.
The four former chief ministers of the erstwhile state who participated in the discussions were Farooq Abdullah and his son Omar Abdullah of the National Conference, Congress’ Ghulam Nabi Azad and PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti.
Four former deputy chief ministers were in attendance too Congress’ Tara Chand, People’s Conference leader Muzaffar Hussain Baig and BJP’s Nirmal Singh and Kavinder Gupta.
CPI-M leader Mohammed Yusuf Tarigami, Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party (JKAP) chief Altaf Bukhari, Sajjad Lone of the People’s Conference, J-K Congress head G A Mir, BJP’s Ravinder Raina and Panthers Party leader Bhim Singh also formed part of the delegation.
“I will keep my agenda in the meeting and then talk to you,” Farooq Abdullah said before the meeting started.
Asked about PDP chief Mehbooba’s comments that India should initiate dialogue with Pakistan, the NC leader said, “Mehbooba ji is the president of her party. She has the right to speak. I have my own. I don’t want to bring in Pakistan. I am going to talk to our own prime minister.”
“If India can talk to the Taliban in Doha (Qatar), why not Pakistan,” Mehbooba had said earlier.
With no agenda announced for the meeting, the leaders from Jammu and Kashmir said they have come with an open mind.
“We have not been given an agenda. We will be attending the meeting to know what the Centre is offering,” said Tarigami, who is also spokesperson of the six-party People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) that was formed in the aftermath of the August 2019 decisions.
Officials said the Centre is keen on holding assembly elections in the union territory as early as possible, maybe in December this year or March 2022 after the Delimitation Commission headed by Justice (retd) Ranjana Desai completes its task of redrawing constituencies in the next few months. The Commission was granted one year’s extension in March this year.
BJP’s Jammu and Kashmir unit president Raina said Thursday’s interaction convened by the prime minister is in accordance with the wishes of heads of various political parties who have been seeking time from him for a long time.
The meeting seems to be the result of the back-channel talks held with all the parties from the union territory to chart out a roadmap.
The Union Home Minister, while tabling the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Bill 2019 in Parliament, had given an assurance that the Centre would grant full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir at an appropriate time.
Today’s dialogue comes seven months after the District Development Council (DDC) elections in Jammu and Kashmir. The PAGD had surged ahead of the BJP and its allies, including the JKAP, by bagging 110 seats out of 280 with the National Conference emerging stronger with 67 seats within the alliance. The BJP was the single largest party with 75 seats.
Jammu and Kashmir’s political mainstream, especially those with a strong base in the Valley, has been critical of successive administrations of the union territory for allegedly neglecting the demands of the people. It has raised questions on development initiatives since August 2019.
Several leaders, including the Abdullahs and Mehbooba, were detained after the August 2019 decisions.
PM Modi’s Meeting With Jammu And Kashmir Leaders Begins
A crucial meeting to chalk out the future political course of action in Jammu and Kashmir, convened by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, began on Thursday with the attendance of 14 leaders, including four former chief ministers.
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.
Besides the prime minister, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval attended the meeting.
The four former chief ministers of Jammu and Kashmir who attended the meeting are Farooq Abdullah, Ghulam Nabi Azad, Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti.
With no agenda announced for the meeting, the leaders from Jammu and Kashmir said they have come with an open mind.
“We have not been given an agenda. We will be attending the meeting to know what the Centre is offering, said CPI(M) leader Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami, who is also a spokesman of the six-party People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD).
Tarigami is among the 14 Jammu and Kashmir leaders invited to the all-party meeting at the prime minister’s residence.
P K Mishra, the principal secretary to the prime minister, and Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla are among those who attended the meeting. (PTI)
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