New Delhi: The Centre is planning an all party meet to reach out to JK leaders and break the impasse in the Union Territory, ‘The Wire’ reported Friday.
Top political sources told The Wire that the Prime Minister’s Office is believed to be piloting the ‘outreach’, and that the agenda will include a schedule for delimitation and assembly elections, as well as restoration of statehood. Srinagar: New Delhi is planning to break the ice with the Kashmir-based political parties who have been on a war-path against the BJP-led Central government over the revocation of the erstwhile state’s special status.
Top political sources told The Wire that the Prime Minister’s Office is piloting an ‘outreach’ in which strong feelers have been sent to the constituent parties of the Gupkar alliance and other political outfits in Jammu and Kashmir.
Although the modalities for the ‘groundbreaking initiative’ are in the process of being finalised, sources said New Delhi is now inclined to resume political activities in Jammu and Kashmir, which will pave way for assembly elections. On the cards is an all-party meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi with the broad agenda of delimitation, assembly elections and restoration of statehood – stripped from J&K on August 5, 2019.
Asked by the The Wire about the latest developments, former Union minister and Member of Parliament, Dr Farooq Abdullah, who also heads the National Conference and the Gupkar alliance, refused to comment. “I have nothing to say,” he said and hung up the phone.
CPI(M) general secretary M.Y. Tarigami, who is the chief spokesperson of the alliance, told The Wire that the “onus of dialogue” with the political parties of Kashmir is on the Central government.Process of dialogue has been blocked (by the BJP’s Central government). We have been seeking audience with the prime minister since the day (August 4, 2019) the Gupkar Declaration was signed,” Tarigami said.
“Instead of allowing the meeting, we were put into jails. PAGD (Gupkar alliance) favours dialogue with those who matter in the Government of India,” he added.