All Party Meeting: Of, By and For the People
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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

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ARSHID NABI MIR

 

 

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.

 

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.

 

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.

 

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.

 

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.

 

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.

 

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.

 

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.

 

(Author can be mailed at: arshid_bara@gmail.com)

 

 

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