JK News Today Commentary
Jammu, June 23:
A day before the leaders from Jammu and Kashmir embark on the most important journey to Delhi to attend an all-party meet with Prime Minister Narendra Modi ,, hopes are pinned on how the meet would play out something positive for the people – Assembly elections and something more that will fit into the new aspirations for peace with development-oriented dignity.
The development has been redefined in the current times. It is not all about the infrastructure, road and buildings , but it has deeper meaning of politics of positivity in which the human dignity is supreme . The human dignity is a translation for good education , peaceful atmosphere and environment to build careers . In short, it is a replacement of symbolism with realism , where not slogans but concrete career- building opportunities, drawing of curtains on uncertainties once and for all.
That makes this meet historic as it will unveil the direction which J&K can hope for itself and how far the Centre and the leadership from the Valley and Jammu region can join hands on the common and promising outlook for the Union Territory, where a large section is also hoping for the return of the statehood.
There is an assumption that the Centre is trying to rewrite its script of August 5, 2019, when it had abrogated Article 370 and divided the erstwhile state into the two union territories of Ladakh, and J&K. It may be the case. And if that is what the meet is all about , two important things need to be understood- one , this is the initiative of Prime Minister who has involved his own personality , and the institution in this meet . This, in itself is a unique thing , for he has demonstrated that he has good of the people of J&K at heart and that’s why he is willing to sit with all those who had launched barbs at him . This shows his spirit of accommodation.
Second , this meeting is not about chat show, but filled with a desire to find a secure future for Jammu and Kashmir that had eluded it for decades.
It doesn’t matter when this meet is being held as long as the spirit and intentions are clear . Prime Minister has manifested these in no uncertain terms .
Prime Minister has chosen timings and guest list striking a balance between the pro-and anti-Article 370 narrators.. There would be a mix of arguments, and that is what the all-party meets are meant for to bring out where agreement evolves from the disagreements . Seen against this backdrop , there is a hope that meeting holds a lot of promise.
This fact is further substantiated by the decision of the People’s Alliance For Gupkar Declaration ( PAGD) to take part in the deliberations and air its viewpoint insisting on the restoration of Article 370 . They know that they can do it because there would be ears to listen to the same. Listening to the arguments contrary to the personal and political ideology is the essence of democracy . In that sense, it would not be wrong to assume that the positive outcome or the positive course of direction should come in sight at the end of the meet on June 24.
