29-07-2023 : Political leaders in Jammu and Kashmir have voiced their concerns over the delay in holding Assembly elections and criticized the BJP-led Central Government for attempting to run the Union Territory through “remote control from Delhi.” A round-table conference, titled ‘Jammu and Kashmir – The Way Forward,’ saw leaders from various parties coming together to address the pressing issues facing the region.
During the conference, CPIM leader Mod Yousuf Tarigami, National Conference Provincial president Rattan Lal Gupta, Shiv Sena (Bala Saheb Thaakrey) leader Manish Sahni, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader Varinder Singh Sonu, and Awami National Conference senior vice president Muzaffar Shah emphasized the need for dialogue to find a consensus and navigate Jammu and Kashmir out of the existing “quagmire.”
Tarigami expressed the hope that when the Assembly polls are announced, the BJP will face the restive population of Jammu and Kashmir. The people of the region place their trust in the Supreme Court to uphold the Constitution and deliver justice. He urged for dialogue as a means to end political uncertainty and misgovernance, allowing the people to find relief from their struggles. Noting that fresh elections have not been conducted since the dissolution of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly in November 2018, Tarigami called for the restoration of democratic processes.
The events of August 5, 2019, when the Centre stripped the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir of its special status under Article 370 of the Constitution and reorganized it into two union territories, were cited as significant factors contributing to the region’s current challenges.
Rattan Lal Gupta, the NC’s Provincial president, highlighted the suffering endured by the people of Jammu and Kashmir due to the lack of accountability, basic facilities, inflation, and growing unemployment. He stressed that restoring the pre-August 2019 position and establishing a popular government were crucial for the overall development of the region.
Manish Sahni from the Shiv Sena criticized the BJP’s governance in Jammu and Kashmir, labeling it as directionless, and asserted that their post-August 2019 claims had proven to be empty promises. He raised concerns about the rise of narco-terrorism and the unresolved issue of Kashmiri Pandits’ return to the valley, pointing out the failure of the government to provide a secure atmosphere for their repatriation.
Muzaffar Shah of the Awami National Conference accused the BJP of creating division by pitting different communities against each other while granting Scheduled Tribe status to the Pahari community through a bill in Parliament. He argued that such decisions should be left to the assembly and a popularly elected government to avoid further division among people.
Chairman of the Centre for Peace and Progress, OP Shah, summarized the discussion, stating that the people of Jammu and Kashmir had full faith in the Constitution. They expressed concerns about the delay in assembly elections, the restoration of statehood, and awaited the Supreme Court’s judgment on petitions challenging the abrogation of Article 370.
The speakers also questioned the developmental claims made by the BJP and emphasized the need for a democratically elected government to be restored, as governor’s rule is temporary and not a substitute for the people’s government in accordance with parliamentary democracy.
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