All Party Meeting: Of, By and For the People
It is the time for the political parties to realize that the road ahead should be of peace and prosperity, not of plaintive
Post by on Tuesday, June 22, 2021
ARSHID NABI MIR
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Union
Government has taken a strategic stride in drawing communication lines with the
political leadership of J&K UT to end the long political impasse since
abrogation of Special Status of the proud erstwhile state. This initiative has
come after a serious spadework on the political dimensions of the UT, opening
an avenue for discourse where aspirations of populace including a roadmap for
elected Government, can be discussed.
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The
ensuing meeting is a golden opportunity for the mainstream political parties,
especially Kashmir-based People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) for
rapprochement with Delhi putting forward the concerns of masses. PAGD which has
declared that its leaders would attend the meeting should carry with it the
aspirations of the people of both Jammu and Kashmir regions. The Prime Minister
has shown allegiance to his commitment towards and peaceful and progressive
J&K. It is now upon the political leaders of the two regions to convert
this opportunity into a historic turn-around for J&K.
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The
proposition of dialogue with the Centre has led to rumblings in the political
corridors and all the mainstream political parties including PAGD, an amalgam
of five political parties, held meetings to chalk out their agenda for the
proposed meeting in Delhi. All parties should speak in the voice of the people
and demand dignity and respect from the Union Government. A chance to sit
together on one table with the policy makers who matter, headed by the PM
himself, should be used to usher in a new era of politics and development for
the troubled region.
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The
end of the statehood after a year-long Governor Rule has somewhat stripped off
the political stalwarts from their political ground and had created a vacuum.
At this juncture, the outreach efforts by the Centre have given them a shot in
the arm for which (it is not a secret) they were ardently waiting. Even, NC
Patron Farooq Abdullah earlier had spelt out that if Centre reaches out to
political parties, they should explore any such opportunity.
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The
meeting has provided a platform to those political parties who were crying foul
over the administrative rule alleging that the bureaucracy cannot be an
alternative of an elected Government. After August 5, 2019, detention of main
invitees including Farooq Abdullah, Omar Abdullah, Mehbooba Mufti and Sajjad
Lone for months has created a rift with Delhi and this proposed meeting
indicates that the differences over political issues are temporary in nature
and same could be mitigated through dialogue. This outreach by Delhi is also
recognition of the fact that the Union Government considers and respects the
politics of J&K and aspirations of the people. It is, now, up to our
leaders to hold an olive branch to Delhi and soothe the frayed emotions in J&K.
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The
proposed meeting is to be chaired the by the Prime Minister and this dialogue
offer taking all the stakeholders together can be seen as a trait of his
all-inclusive governing policy. On multiple occasions, PM has laid emphasis on
defending democracy from a host of threats stemming from terrorism, violent
extremism and economic coercion. The political invitees should remain cognizant
of the fact that the meeting on board is for cooperation and conciliation, not
for confrontation. The seeds of suspicion towards Delhi should not color the
engagement with it. After successfully putting in place the three tiers of
panchayati raj system, the union has now empowered the top political leadership
to reap dividends of a thriving democratic society in J&K, at par with any
other state of the country.
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The
dialogue should not be seen as only between the Centre and mainstream political
parties but an effort of the Government to reach out to the masses. Unlike in
the past, where the meetings were centered around only to douse the unrest,
this time more important issues are involved. Besides focusing on special
status and their political goals, the invitees should bring the real issues on
the table especially the plight of people reeling under the economic distress
inflicted by the two phases of pandemic. The upcoming meeting should not be
viewed only as to revisit August 2019 decisions but also to devise a future
roadmap for J&K that has the stamp of mutual confidence among the
stakeholders recognizing each other’s concerns.
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The
Government has created conducive atmosphere for the dialogues in Kashmir. The
exchange of ideas for peaceful and progressive future of Kashmir is far more
important than lamenting the past deeds. It is the time for the political
parties to realize that the road ahead should be of peace and prosperity, not
of plaintive.
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(Author
can be mailed at: arshid_bara@gmail.com)
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