JK: Political parties in Kashmir gear up for meeting PM Modi on June 24

The Union Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla in the last two days have been sending telephonic invitations to the 14 main leaders of Jammu and Kashmir including NC President Dr Farooq Abdullah, former CM and senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad, Omar Abdullah, PDP Mehbooba Mufti, Sajad Gani Lone, Altaf Bukhari, Ravender Raina, GA Mir, M Y Tarigami, Prof. Bhim Singh, Muzaffer Hussain Beigh, Tara Chand, Nirmal Singh and Kavinder Gupta of BJP.

Srinagar: The meeting of Jammu and Kashmir mainstream political parties called by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on June 24 has revived the political activity in the Valley which was frozen since the abrogation of Article 370 on August 5, 2019, by the BJP government. Since the last two weeks the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, Srinagar, has been abuzz with the political activities of the National Conference, PDP, CPIM and their conglomerate Peoples Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD).

In the backdrop of the meeting, NC, PDP, Apni Party and Peoples Conference have been expediting their meetings to create a consensus on meeting the Prime Minister. PDP's Political Affairs Committee Sunday held a meeting with Kashmir and Jammu based leaders on virtual mode where the party president was suggested to take a decision on meeting with the PM.

"The Party's Political Affairs Committee decided that the final decision regarding the participation in All Parties Meeting headed by PM Modi will be taken by Mehbooba Mufti, all members have authorised her: A meeting of People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration will be held in two days. This matter will be discussed there too," PDP Spokesperson Suhail Bukhari told media persons after the meeting.

National Conference also held a "consultative" meeting of its top ten leaders today at the residence of party president Dr Farooq Abdullah. "Farooq Abdullah will hold more consultations with other senior leaders on Monday and Tuesday, and he will make an announcement about his participation in the meeting with PM Modi on Wednesday," NC General Secretary Ali Muhammad Sagar told reporters after the meeting.

Although PDP's Mehbooba Mufti has kept suspense about her participation in the meeting Farooq Abdullah and other leaders have indicated that they will be joining the meeting on June 24. Sources said that all invited leaders are likely to meet the prime minister and suggest restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir UT before holding assembly elections. The Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party led by Altaf Bukhari will hold a meeting on Monday afternoon for its participation in the meeting.

The Union Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla in the last two days have been sending telephonic invitations to the 14 main leaders of Jammu and Kashmir including NC President Dr Farooq Abdullah, former CM and senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad, Omar Abdullah, PDP Mehbooba Mufti, Sajad Gani Lone, Altaf Bukhari, Ravender Raina, GA Mir, M Y Tarigami, Prof. Bhim Singh, Muzaffer Hussain Beigh, Tara Chand, Nirmal Singh and Kavinder Gupta of BJP.

Kavinder Gupta, former Deputy CM and senior BJP leader told ETV Bharat that the meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be about holding assembly elections, restoration of statehood to JK UT and resumption of political activities in Jammu and Kashmir.

Though there is no official word from the PM office about the purpose of the meeting. The political developments in the last few weeks follow the ceasefire agreement between India and Pakistan in February this year on the Line of Control and International Border in Jammu and Kashmir.