Prime Minister Narendra Modi said delimitation must proceed quickly so that polls can be held after a three-hour meeting with party leaders in Jammu and Kashmir. “Strengthening grassroots democracy in J&K is our top objective. PM Modi stated in a tweet that delimitation must be completed quickly so that elections can be held and J&K can pick a government that would support the state’s growth trajectory.
After the conference, when many people demanded J&K’s statehood, Union Minister Amit Shah said the delimitation exercise and peaceful elections are crucial steps in restoring it. “We are committed to ensure all round development of J&K… the delimitation exercise and peaceful elections are important milestones in restoring statehood as promised in parliament,” Shah tweeted.
Following the meeting, Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad told reporters that they presented the PM with five demands: statehood, holding Assembly elections to restore democracy, rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandits in J&K, release of all political detainees, and changes to the domicile laws.
People’s Conference leader Muzzafar Hussain Baig described the meeting as “cordial” and “pleasant,” saying PM Modi promised to do everything he can to make Jammu and Kashmir a place of peace rather than strife.
“All leaders demanded statehood. To which PM said, the delimitation process should conclude first and then other issues will be addressed. It was a satisfactory meeting. There was complete unanimity for restoring peace in Jammu and Kashmir,” Baig added.
Ghulam Ahmad Mir, the president of the Jammu and Kashmir Congress, stated ahead of the meeting that the topic of statehood will be raised at Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s all-party conference. “The events of 2019 have shaken the people of the state. He stated, “We’ll wait for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s agenda for today’s meeting and reply accordingly.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi met leaders of the People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD), a coalition of major parties in J&K, in New Delhi today. Security forces in Jammu and Kashmir remain on high alert.
