All eyes are set at Prime Minister-chaired all-party meeting on Jammu and Kashmir for which at least 14 political leaders from 8 parties have been invited. The meeting held at PM Modi’s Delhi residence will include former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti.
Along with People’s Democratic Party leader Mufti, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, National Security Ajit Doval, J&K Lt Governor Manoj Sinha, former CM Ghulam Nabi Azad will also attend the meeting.
It’s been nearly two years after the Center government scrapped Article 370 and Jammu and Kashmir lost its special status in 2019. Since then, it is the first high-level interaction to be held between the Modi government and Jammu and Kashmir’s political leaders.
In 2019, when Centre ripped J&K of its special status by scrapping article 370 and 35A, National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah, his son Omar Abdullah and People’ Democratic Party chief Mehbooba Mufti were jailed for six months-a year. These leaders would be among the political leader to attend the meet and it is anticipated their priority would be restoring UT’s special status.
So far, the meeting has no specific agenda, however, the invitees say the agenda is very clear i.e. the UT- Jammu and Kashmir, PM’s decision taken on August 5 and restoration of statehood.
Talking about delimitation, legal experts say that “delimitation commission is an independent body and the excessive and political parties cannot interfere in its functioning."
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“Delimitation is based on census. There is a constitutional as well as statutory bar on maintaining a challenge against the order of a Delimitation Commission before any court of law" said Supreme Court lawyer, Shoaib Alam.
Meanwhile, Jammu has been strongly opposing the delimitation because it will only favor the Kashmir valley.
Former CM Ghulam Nabi Azad said, “The meeting was called by the as Prime Minister. We see it a positive development. There are no riders. No one has been asked not to talk about restoration of J&K's special status."
For about two years now, Kashmir has gone through the world’s longest internet blockade, strict curfew. When J&K was ripped of its special status thousands of people were jailed in order to prevent any protest.
The central government has defended the decision claiming it would bring development to Kashmir.