Ravinder Raina, his senior party colleagues and former deputy chief ministers, Nirmal Singh and Kavinder Gupta, attended the June 24 all-party meeting on J amp;K chaired by PM Narendra Modi.
Tag: Jammu and Kashmir
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Back from Delhi, Farooq Abdullah says ‘level of mistrust’ in J&K; Omar demands statehood before polls
By PTI
SRINAGAR: National Conference chief Farooq Abdullah Saturday said there was “a level of mistrust” in Jammu and Kashmir and it was for the Centre to remove it, even as his son and former chief minister Omar Abdullah demanded restoring Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood before holding Assembly polls.Speaking to reporters upon their return from Delhi after attending an all-party meet convened by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Jammu and Kashmir, Farooq said he would hold discussions with his party leaders and PAGD constituents before making any further statement on the meeting.
He said the country’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru promised plebiscite to the people of J&K, but went back on it.
He also said that before the 1996 elections, the then prime minister P V Narasimha Rao had promised autonomy from the floor of the house.
“Narasimha Raoji before elections promised us autonomy and said sky is the limit, but not independence. We said we never asked (for) independence, we have asked for autonomy. He promised us from the floor of the house. Where is that?” Farooq asked.
“There is a level of mistrust….We should wait and see what they (the Centre) do….Whether they will remove the mistrust or let it continue,” he added.
The former CM said even senior Congress leader Karan Singh has called for the restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir before holding elections.
He said that at the prime minister’s meeting, all invited persons put forth their views.
“This was the first step from their side that somehow the situation is improved in Jammu and Kashmir and a political process is restarted,” he said.
The Srinagar Lok Sabha MP dismissed suggestions that the June 24 meeting with the Prime Minister signalled the end of People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) — a Six-party amalgam of mainstream parties formed after the Centre abrogated Article 370 and split Jammu and Kashmir into two union territories in August 2019.
“Why should it be the end of the alliance?” Omar, meanwhile, told reporters it was made clear to the Centre during the PM’s meeting that the statehood should be restored to Jammu and Kashmir before holding of Assembly elections.
“(Ghulam Nabi) Azad sahib spoke on behalf of all of us that we do not accept this timeline. We do not accept delimitation, election, statehood. We want delimitation, statehood and then election. If you want to hold polls, you will have to restore statehood first,” he told reporters soon after returning from Delhi.
On the process of delimitation, he said the National Conference had authorised its president Farooq Abdullah to take a view as and when the party is approached by the delimitation commission again.
Dismissing suggestions that the People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) was weakened after the meeting, Omar said that in the all-party meet alliance members said nothing which was outside the spirit of the grouping.
“We maintain that we do not accept the August 2019 decisions and we will continue to fight them legally, democratically and peacefully,” he said.
Referring to some leaders refusing to talk about the restoration of Article 370 as the matter was subjudice, Omar said it should not come in the way of discussing the issue.
“Firstly, only two persons said the matter is subjdice — Azad and Muzaffar Hussain Baig — and they both are not part of the PAGD. The matter is before the Supreme Court does not mean we cannot talk about it. The Babri Masjid case was before the Supreme Court but the BJP raised the Ram Temple issue all along, he said.
He said the leaders were invited to the all-party meet at party level and not as an alliance.
“Had we been invited as an alliance, then only one person would have been invited,” he added.
The National Conference vice president said they would continue to strive for the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status, irrespective of how long it takes.
“It took 70 years for the BJP to succeed in their agenda of abrogation of Article 370. We won’t back off from our mission, even if it takes us 70 weeks or 70 months or more time,” he said.
He said the leadership should take steps that provide some respite to the people from harassment.
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Militant killed in encounter with security forces in J-K’s Shopian
By PTI
SRINAGAR: A militant was killed in an encounter with security forces in Shopian district of Jammu and Kashmir on Friday, police said.Security forces launched a cordon-and-search operation in the Hanjipora area of Shopian district following information about presence of militants there, a police official said.
He said the search operation turned into an encounter after militants opened fire on the security forces personnel, drawing retaliation. In the ensuing gunfight, a militant was killed, the official said.
He said the identity and group affiliation of the slain militant were yet to be ascertained. The operation was underway till last reports came in, the official added.
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PM mum on restoration of Art 370
Express News Service
NEW DELHI: While PM Narendra Modi told the Kashmir leaders that his government is committed to restoring statehood, he remained silent on the restoration of Article 370. Sources told this newspaper that another issue on which the PM remained non-committal was the demand of new domicile rules, job guarantee for locals. Congress veteran Ghulam Nabi Azad said his party had placed the demand that in the new Bill for Statehood, the government should protect land rights through new domicile rules and guarantee employment for locals.When asked about the government’s stand on the two issues, a senior government functionary said: “Restoration of Article 370 is out of question and the government has already declared the new domicile rules.” NC leaders Farooq and Omar Abdullah, PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti, CPM leader Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami put forward the demand for restoration of Article 370. “Almost 80% of parties spoke on Article 370 but the matter is sub judice,” said Azad.
PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti said she told the PM that the abrogation of special status has left the people “angry, upset, humiliated and emotionally shattered”. “Be it months or years, we’ll restore Article 370 in J&K as it’s a matter of our identity. We didn’t get it from Pakistan, it was given to us by our country, by Nehru, Sardar Patel.”
Omar too said that he told the prime minister that the party does not stand with the August 5, 2019 decision when the government revoked the special status of J&K and turned the state into two union territories. “We’re not ready to accept it,” he said. Omar also questioned the need for carrying out the delimitation process in J&K. After the 2001 census, the J&K assembly had passed a law, putting off the delimitation process till 2026, he said.
“We said delimitation was not needed. If August 5 was to unite the state with India, then the delimitation process defeats the purpose as we are being singled out.” At Thursday’s meeting, Modi urged the 14 leaders to get on board with the process of delimitation and said that the election process in the UT will begin once the delimitation process is finished.
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PM sets tone to bridge J&K gulf
Express News Service
NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said he was working towards removing “Dilli ki duri and Dil ki duri” (distance between between J&K and Delhi and distance between hearts), in a meeting he chaired with 14 leaders of eight parties from the state.“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,” the Prime Minister tweeted after the talks at his residence, which lasted over three hours. The meeting came nearly two years after Article 370 was hollowed out and J&K was broken up into two Union Territories.
Restoration of statehood, holding the delimitation process, conducting Assembly elections to restore democracy, release of political detainees, rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandits in J&K, ceasefire agreement with Pakistan, Article 370 and protection of land rights were among the key issues that came up for discussion.
While Modi heard all political leaders individually and expressed the Central government’s willingness to fulfil most demands raised by them, he was silent when Article 370 was raised by National Conference leaders Farooq and Omar Abdullah, PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti and CPM leader Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami, sources said.
The eight parties that were represented included the National Conference, the PDP, the BJP and the Congress. Union home minister Amit Shah, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Lt Governor Manoj Sinha participated.
Restoration of statehood was raised by all 14 leaders. Shah said the government is committed to restoring it, but that would happen after the delimitation process and holding of elections is over. Modi sought cooperation from all parties irrespective of political differences to expedite the process.
After the talks, Farooq Abdullah emphasised on the importance of building trust in J&K, saying that restoration of full statehood will be the first trust-building exercise from New Delhi’s side. His son Omar Abdullah said the prime minister was told about their opposition to what was done on August 5, 2019, when the decision to revoke J&K’s special status and bifurcate the state into two Union Territories was announced in Parliament. He added that it was the duty of the Centre to restore the broken trust of the people and said delimitation is not necessary.
370 abrogated immorally, says MuftiPDP chief Mehbooba Mufti said she told the PM that the people of J&K do not accept the manner in which Article 370 was abrogated “unconstitutionally, illegally and immorally”
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PM meets J&K political leadership in Delhi to chalk out future course of action
By PTI
NEW DELHI: 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.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi holds meeting with Jammu and Kashmir leaders in Delhi pic.twitter.com/Mga0TmnORz
— ANI (@ANI) June 24, 2021The 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.
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PM Modi’s meeting with 14 Jammu and Kashmir leaders begins in New Delhi
By PTI
NEW DELHI: 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.
ALSO READ | PM Modi to meet 14 J&K leaders in Delhi on June 24; first since abrogation of Article 370
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.
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BJP will list benefits of Article 370 revocation at all-party meet: Gupta
Express News Service
SRINAGAR: The BJP will counter Gupkar alliance’s demand for restoration of Article 370 at the all-party meeting (APM) convened by the Prime Minister on Thursday listing achievements of its revocation, said J&K’s former deputy chief minister and senior party leader Kavinder Gupta.He also ruled out external hand in the decision to convene the all-party meeting. Gupta said the BJP’s J&K unit would seek completion of the delimitation process in the right manner at the meeting. There should be justice with both Kashmir and Jammu, he said.
Asked about the Gupkar alliance’s demand for restoration of Article 370, Gupta said, “Talking about Article 370 is a futile exercise now as it has gone forever. We will counter the Gupkar alliance by listing the achievements of revocation of the Article.
After the move, J&K has been totally integrated with India and the Pakistani refugees and others have finally got their rights…Besides, 118 central laws have been incorporated into J&K. Developmental activities have gained pace and militancy violence is coming down.” .
Asked whether the J&K BJP leaders would demand restoration of statehood at the meeting, Gupta said, “The central government has already assured that it would restoring the statehood to J&K. It will do so at an appropriate time.” The party would support the demand at the meeting, he added.
To a question on sharing the stage with the Gupkar alliance, whom BJP has labelled as ‘Gupkar Gang’, Gupta said, “The Centre has invited them for talks and we don’t have any hesitation in sharing stage with them.” On whether any external pressure might have prompted the Centre to convene the all-party meeting, the BJP leader said, “India has a strong government. The country is now in a position to dictate and not take dictation.”
Security forces on high alert for 48 hoursSecurity forces in J&K are on high alert for next 48 hours in the UT and similar orders have been issued for areas along the LoC. Although a ceasefire is in place, we don’t want to take chances,” he said. Internet services in the Union Territory could also be snapped on Thursday.
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Militant killed in encounter with security forces in J&K’s Shopian
By PTI
SRINAGAR: An unidentified militant was killed in an encounter with security forces in Shopian district of Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday, police said.Security forces launched a cordon and search operation in Shirmal area of the south Kashmir district after receiving specific inputs about the presence of militants there, a police official said.
He said as the forces were conducting searches, militants fired upon them.
The forces retaliated, ensuing an encounter, in which one militant was killed, the official said.
He said the identity and group affiliation of the slain militant was being ascertained.
The operation is going on, he added.