SNS KASHMIR.
NEW DEHLI JUNE 24 :
Almost 22 months after Narendra Modi government abolished Article 370, the Centre today promised to complete the entire electoral process once the exercise of delimitation is realised in a time-bound manner.
“We have placed five demands before the government including holding early elections and restoring statehood to the state,” said Congress leader and former J&K chief minister Ghulam Nabi Azad.
Viewing it as a crucial step towards the return of electoral politics and the holding of Assembly elections, the Centre today met the formation to discuss a host of issues. The meeting’s importance could be gauged from the fact that it was one of those rare moments when the Central leadership and political fraternity from the valley tried to chalk out a political course of action for J&K.
“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,” J&K Apni Party’s Altaf Bukhari on PM Modi-J&K leaders meet
Immediate Agenda on table Although the visiting delegation (People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD), a coalition of mainstream parties in J&K) came with a host of issues, getting the delimitation exercise completed and hold elections in J&K as soon as possible remain utmost priority for Modi government
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.
Major events since the removal of special status The repeal of Article 370 and 35 A in Jammu and Kashmir was followed by internet shutdowns and restrictions on movement of locals. The political leadership, including chief ministers Farooq Abdullah, Mehbooba Mufti and Omar Abdullah, was placed under house arrest and slapped with the Public Safety Act.
Early this year, the Abdullahs were released but Mufti remains under house arrest and 4G internet connection continues to remain blocked.
The Economic Times.