Kashmir Parleys :Time for Going forward Pragmatically !
The Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s invitation to Jammu & Kashmir leaders is a timely and far-sighted initiative. Though the Central Govt has called 14 leaders of 8 political parties from Kashmir valley, who among them are keen to come on discussion table, is a moot question. Among the invitees are 4 former CMs of the state, two of whom are known hardliners, three among them being confused ‘or projecting themselves so’, nevertheless it is a very significant chance to settle the historical knots of Indian politics and to move Forward, to fulfil the aspirations of Kashmiri residents.
The invitation has been extended to NC’s Dr Farooq Abdullah and Omar Abdullah; Congress’ Ghulam Nabi Azad, Tara Chand and G.A. Mir; PDP’s Mehbooba Mufti; Peoples Conference’s Sajad Gani Lone and Muzaffar Hussian Baigh; Apni Party’s Altaf Bukhari; BJP’s Ravinder Raina, Nirmal Singh and Kavinder Gupta; CPI(M)’s M. Y. Tarigami, and National Panthers Party’s Prof. Bheem Singh.
The GOI has forgotten to invite two important entities of the state: the former Yuvaraj of J&K Dr Karan Singh and Representatives of Displaced Kashmiri Pandits, who had been uprooted from their roots in 1989 and are living in Refugee Camps, with a hope to see their place of birth. They have been dreaming of returning back to the valley and get back their properties and traditional livelihood. Though the GOI has initiated the process of discussion with a great hope, results will depend largely on the pragmatism from above leaders mainly, the recently formed ‘Gupkar Group.’
Though the NDA Govt. has nullified the disputed Sections 370 and 35A (on August 05, 2019), which were basically temporary reprieves, inserted in 1948-49, but were kept alive for almost 70 years, by crafty politicians of the valley. The process of merger of Jammu & Kashmir state with Indian Union, has left indelible spot over history-books; with prominent leaders like then PM Nehru, Sardar Patel (the architect of Indian Unity, post Independence), Sheikh Abdullah and Maharaja Hari Singh, Viceroy Lord Mountbatten, shuffling the files helter-skelter and delaying the issue. These delays resulted in Pakistan’s occupying large part of Kashmir, gifting big territory (38,000 sq.km. of Aksai Chon area) of POK to China illegally and creating bleeding scar in the body of Indian state, which shed limitless blood from of Kashmiri youths and patriotic Indian youth, including thousands of soldiers.
Among the likely points of agenda would be i) delimitation of Assembly segments, increase from 83 to 90 seats ii) allowing 7 extra seats to be added to include representation to about 60,000 displaced Kashmiri Pandits and over 400,000 Kashmiris from POK, iii) to conduct elections in the State and iv) Restoration of Full state status, as it existed before August 2019. Although Ladakh region was also part of J&K State, it may remain a separate Union Territory for some more time.
Keeping the past aside, this is the time for all to sit together and use this opportunity to create a bright future for the youth of the J&K state and usher in a fresh air from the valley to the mainland India.