NEW DELHI: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a crucial meeting with top political leaders from Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) today (Thursday) for the first time since New Delhi stripped region’s semi-autonomy.
According to details, no major decision was announced after the meeting, while all politicians from the occupied territory demanded full-fledged statehood.
Talking to journalists after the meeting, one of the participants of the meeting J&K Apni Party’s Altaf Bukhari said, “The talks were held in a good atmosphere today. The prime minister heard our issues of all leaders. PM said that the election process will begin when the delimitation process finishes.”
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a three-hour meeting with top political leaders from Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) on Thursday, has “committed” to restore the occupied valley’s statehood.
Bukhari said that Modi asked all parties to participate in the delimitation process. “We have been assured that this is the roadmap towards elections,” he said, adding, “PM Modi said that his government is committed to the restoration of the statehood of IIOJK.”
Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad quoted Home Minister Amit Shah as saying that the government is committed to granting statehood to Jammu and Kashmir. “All leaders during the meeting demanded full-fledged statehood,” he added.
In a tweet, Prime Minister Narendra Modi termed the meeting an important step in the ongoing efforts towards a developed and progressive Kashmir.
We are committed to ensure all round development of J&K.
The future of Jammu and Kashmir was discussed and the delimitation exercise and peaceful elections are important milestones in restoring statehood as promised in parliament.
— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) June 24, 2021
“Our democracy’s biggest strength is the ability to sit across a table and exchange views. I told the leaders of J&K that it is the people, especially the youth who have to provide political leadership to J&K, and ensure their aspirations are duly fulfilled,” he said.
The Indian prime minister also said that his government’s priority was to “strengthen grassroots democracy” in the region. “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,” he tweeted.
Meanwhile, Home Minister Amit Shah said the “future” of Kashmir was discussed in the meeting, adding “the delimitation exercise and peaceful elections are important milestones in restoring statehood as promised in parliament.”
We are committed to ensure all round development of J&K.
The future of Jammu and Kashmir was discussed and the delimitation exercise and peaceful elections are important milestones in restoring statehood as promised in parliament.
— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) June 24, 2021
‘Will fight this in court’
Former IIOJK chief minister Omar Abdullah, while talking to media, said that he told Modi that he does not stand by what was done on Aug 5, 2019. “We’re not ready to accept it. But we won’t take law into our hands. We’ll fight this in court,” he told media, adding that there was no need for delimitation in IIOJK.
“We requested the PM that our fight will continue but it’s essential to reverse some decisions that aren’t at all in the interest of the state,” he said, adding that people want full statehood for J&K with J&K cadre restored.
IOK’s special autonomy
On August 5, 2019, the Modi’s government had revoked articles in the Indian constitution that guaranteed IIOJK’s partial autonomy and other rights including its own flag and constitution.
A huge accompanying security operation saw tens of thousands of extra troops — adding to 500,000 already there — enforced a siege-like curfew. Thousands were arrested and telecommunications were cut for months.
IIOJK was demoted to a union territory governed directly from New Delhi, while the Ladakh region was carved out into a separate administrative area.
