Kashmiri leaders see PM's call for meeting as 'good gesture' towards reconciliation
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New Delhi: The call from Prime Minister Narendra Modi reportedly to resume the talks with Kashmiri political parties is viewed as a welcome gesture by the People's Alliance for Gupkar Declaration, a forum of leaders of various political parties in the valley, reported The Indian Express.
The Centre scheduled a meeting between PM Modi and leaders of the PAGD on June 24. The meeting is expected to initiate talks with the J&K leaders to return the baton of power to the leaders by conducting Assembly elections in the two Union Territories.
The Centre has been ruling Kashmir since 2018 after the revocation of Article 370 and divesting the statehood of Kashmir.
Calling the scheduled meeting with PM Modi 'a good change', the chief of the National Conference, Farooq Abdullah, said that the Centre might have realised that it could not move ahead in Kashmir without the mainstream political parties.
People's Conference chairman Sajad Lone expressed hope that the meeting could evolve positive outcomes paving the way to a new phase of reconciliation. The President rule created a political logjam in the valley, and the new move would help to find durable and democratic solutions to the challenges faced by the people of Jammu and Kashmir, he added.
The Centre is hopeful of attending all the leaders who have been received an invitation from the Union Home Secretary on June 24. It is also optimistic about the progressive outcome of the meeting.
The Prime Minister's Office is reported to have said that the proposed meeting has the only agenda that is to hand over the power to elected representatives to end the President rule.
Attendance of PAGD confirmed
On Tuesday, the PAGD leaders confirmed that they will be attending the all party meeting called by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on June 24. The announcement was made by Dr Abdullah after the PAGD meeting, which was held here at the Gupkar Road residence of the NC patron. Till the announcement, it was not clear whether and who among the leaders would attend the meeting. The invite was given to individual leaders, as opposed to the constituent parties, and uncertainty had prevailed about the attendance.
"Since all of us are part of our political parties and we have received individual invitations, it has, therefore, been decided today that all of us will go and attend the Prime Minister's meeting", Dr Abdullah said. He added that there is no fixed agenda for the June 24 meeting and all of us are free to voice our demands and feelings.