Kashmir Digits

Restoration of statehood for Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) will be discussed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi when he meets mainstream political parties from the region on Thursday — a significant milestone that India’s top leadership has set its eyes on after months of strategising by National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval.

The sources, who are privy to the developments, said J&K will be granted statehood soon, as promised in the past by PM Modi and Home minister Amit Shah, but there will be no talks on restoring the region’s special status.

This is perhaps the most significant development politically in the region after the abrogation of Article 370 and J&K’s special status. In the aftermath of that there was imposition of restrictions on several political leaders and activists in the Kashmir Valley. Gradually, authorities lifted the curbs and released politicians under detention.

“The PM is likely to make the announcement in June 24 meeting with the leaders from Jammu and Kashmir”, sources privy to the developments said.

They said that Jammu and Kashmir “regaining statehood after the exercise of delimitation is completed” will be the key takeaway of the PM’s meet next week.

What will be on agenda?

“Centre will present blueprint on election. As far as timing of statehood is concerned, it will depend on good conduct from the other side,” a top source privy to developments said.

The government sources said the PM will also assure the parties that elections in the region — pending since 2018 — will be conducted soon. All regional parties will participate in the election process, which is expected after an ongoing delimitation exercise, they added.

The delimitation commission seeks to redraw the electoral map of J&K by creating more constituencies — a long-pending demand of parties in Jammu, where the BJP is strong. The NC and the PDP are opposed to the delimitation exercise.

Who is invited for June 24 meet?

As many as 14 leaders from Jammu and Kashmir including four former Chief Ministers of the erstwhile state have been invited for the meeting to be chaired by the Prime Minister on June 24 in New Delhi.

Among those invited are four former CMs Farooq Abdullah and his son Omar Abdullah of the National Conference, senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad, and PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti. Four former Deputy CMs of the erstwhile state — Congress leader Tara Chand, People’s Conference leader Muzaffar Hussain Baig, and BJP leaders Nirmal Singh and Kavinder Gupta — too have been invited to the meet.

Besides, 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 Ravidner Raina, and Panthers Party leader Bhim Singh have also been invited.

What They Said:

The answer to the call so far has been one of readiness with caution.

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said they would take the final call on whether to attend an all-party meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi scheduled for June 24 in New Delhi only after meeting members of Peoples Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) on June 22.

The National Conference (NC) also held intra-party deliberation on Sunday to decide about the future course of action regarding its participation in an all party meeting with the Prime Minister.

NC president Farooq Abdullah met several senior party leaders today.

“The party president has called many senior party leaders today and the deliberation will continue till Monday afternoon,” NC senior leader and president Kashmir province Nasir Aslam Wani said. 

“The party will come out with an official statement on Monday only.” 

In Delhi, the Congress said the Centre should accept the demand for restoration of statehood for Jammu and Kashmir in the interest of the Constitution and democracy.

Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala, however, did not say whether the party will participate in the June 24 meeting or not.

People’s Conference (PC) has called a meeting of its top leadership on Monday to discuss Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s all-party meeting being held in New Delhi, reports said today.

Quoting sources, news agency KNO reported that PC chief Sajad Gani Lone is expected to chair a meeting of the party leadership today.