Meeting with leaders from Jammu and Kashmir (2021) explained

Date:24 June 2021
Participants:Four former chief ministers of Jammu and Kashmir, four former deputy chief ministers of Jammu and Kashmir, and other mainstream politicians from the region.Prime Minister of India, Union Minister of Home Affairs, National Security Advisor of India and the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir
Venues:7, Lok Kalyan Marg, New Delhi
All-party meet on Jammu and Kashmir

On 24 June 2021 the first major interaction between leaders of Jammu and Kashmir and the Union Government of India post revocation of the former states special status and its reorganisation took place.

Attendees

Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister of India, chaired the meeting which was held in New Delhi. The leaders from Jammu and Kashmir included four former chief ministers of the state, Farooq Abdullah, Omar Abdullah, Ghulam Nabi Azad and Mehbooba Mufti; four former deputy chief ministers, Kavinder Gupta, Nirmal Kumar Singh, Tara Chand, Muzaffar Hussain Baig, and other mainstream politicians from the region such as Jitendra Singh, Sajjad Lone, Bhim Singh, Ghulam Ahmad Mir, Altaf Bukhari and Mohammed Yousuf Tarigami. The politicians represented eight mainstream political parties with presence in Jammu and Kashmir— Indian National Congress, National Conference, Peoples Democratic Party, Apni Party, Bharatiya Janta Party, Communist Party of India (Marxist), National Panthers Party and People's Conference. Also present were Amit Shah, the Union Minister of Home Affairs; Ajit Doval, the National Security Advisor of India; and Manoj Sinha, the lieutenant governor of Jammu and Kashmir.[1] [2]

Pre-meeting

Various reasons had been cited by the media for holding the meeting, from back-channel talks to changing geo-politics, to speculation on the topics which would be discussed ranging from further bifurcation, administrative issues to the need to chalk out an outline for the next few months.[3] Officially there was no pre-decided agenda for the meeting.

Proceedings

Topics discussed included strengthening the democratic processes of the region, release of political prisoners, delimitation, assembly elections and restoration of statehood.[4] [5] Everyone got a chance to speak.[6] There was no "grand announcements" following the meeting.[7] Article 370 did not take up too much time of the meeting, with general agreement that the decision of the Supreme Court would be waited for. Commentators noted that all the attendees said that the meeting was in a "cordial" and "friendly atmosphere".

Commentary

Following the meeting Lt Gen Syed Ata Hasnain (Retd) commented,[8] Radha Kumar commented that,There was also general criticism against the meeting.[9] [10]

See also

Further reading

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2021-06-24. PM Modi to meet with J-K leaders today: Who will attend, what's on agenda. 2021-10-23. Livemint.
  2. Web site: 2021-06-24. Chaturvedi. Amit. Explained: Why all-party meeting on J&K is important and what's on agenda. 2021-10-23. Hindustan Times. en.
  3. Web site: Mir. Nazir Ahmad. 22 July 2021. Prime Minister's Outreach to Political Leaders of Jammu and Kashmir. 2021-10-24. Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defense Studies and Analyses.
  4. Web site: Sharma. Akhilesh. 25 June 2021. Ghosh. Deepshikha. Jammu And Kashmir To Become State Again 'At Right Time', PM Said At Meet. 2021-10-23. NDTV.
  5. News: 5 July 2021. Disappointed at outcome of PM Modi's all-party meet on J&K, says Gupkar Alliance. ThePrint. PTI. 23 October 2021.
  6. Web site: Kumar. Radha. Radha Kumar. 25 June 2021. Does Modi's Meeting With Jammu and Kashmir Parties Signal a Thaw or a Trap?. 2021-10-23. The Wire.
  7. Web site: Sareen. Sushant. 25 June 2021. Rebooting Jammu and Kashmir. 2021-10-24. Observer Research Foundation.
  8. Web site: Syed Ata Hasnain . 26 June 2021. Jammu and Kashmir: Opening windows towards peace. 2021-10-23. The New Indian Express.
  9. Web site: Mir. Hilal. 24 June 2021. Pro-India Kashmiri politicians draw flak over meeting with Modi. 2021-10-24. Anadolu Agency.
  10. Web site: 24 June 2021. Kashmiri leaders denounce Modi's all-parties conference. 2021-10-24. The News International. en.