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J&K talks: Reactions arrive at the conclusion of All party meeting

Gupkar alliance

The crucial all-party meeting involving Gupkar alliance of J&K concluded. The meeting was chaired by PM Modi and ran for three and half hours. One of the agenda of the meeting was talks over restoration of statehood to J&K.

Former CM of J&K, Mehbooba Mufti said, “People of J&K will struggle constitutionally, democratically, peacefully. Be it months or years, we will restore Article 370 in J&K as it’s a matter of our identity. We did not get it from Pakistan, it was given to us by our country, by Nehru, Sardar Patel.”

Mehbooba Mufti belongs to PDP party of J&K. She said, “People of J&K do not accept the unconstitutional removal of Article 370.”

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Omar Abdullah of National Conference was one of the leaders from J&K who participated in the meeting.

He said, “We requested PM that our fight will continue but it’s essential to reverse some decisions that are not at all in the interest of J&K. It was given the status of a UT, people do not like it. They want full statehood for J&K with J&K cadre restored.”

Sajjad Lone said that PM wants everyone’s cooperation and participation on delimitation. On the idea of delimitation, Omar Abdullah said, “If the whole purpose of August 5 was to fully integrate J&K with India, doing delimitation just for us does the opposite of that.”

He added that there is no need for delimitation in Jammu and Kashmir now.

Abdullah further commented, “We told PM that we do not stand with what was done on 5th Aug 2019. We are not ready to accept it. But we won’t take law into hands. We will fight this in court. We also told PM that there has been breach of trust between State & Centre. It’s Centre’s duty to restore it.”

On the other end, Minister of state Jitendra Singh stated, “PM said Jammu and Kashmir is moving towards peace and there is a new hope among people.”

 Also Read: Land laws and associated acts of J&K changed by the Central government, Gupkar alliance calls this a “huge betrayal”

PM Modi commented, “Today’s meeting with political leaders from Jammu and Kashmir is an important step in the ongoing efforts towards a developed and progressive J&K.  Our priority is to strengthen grassroots democracy in J&K. Delimitation has to happen at a quick pace so that polls can happen and J&K gets an elected Government that gives strength to J&K’s development trajectory.”

He further said, “Our democracy’s biggest strength is the ability to sit across a table and exchange views. I told the leaders of J&K that it is the people, especially the youth who have to provide political leadership to J&K, and ensure their aspirations are duly fulfilled.”

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Does Gupkar alliance or the centre have anything to lose in today’s all-party meeting

Gupkar allaince

Today there will be a meeting among mainstream political leaders from Jammu and Kashmir and the centre. This meeting is the first such move by the Centre since the scrapping of Article 370 & bifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories in 2019. The erstwhile state of J&K was bifurcated into two UTs via the Jammu & Kashmir reorganization Act, 2019, which was passed on August 05, 2019 and has been effective since October 31, 2019. All the invitees to the meeting have confirmed their participation. They have reached Delhi for the meeting which will be held at 3 pm today.

Gupkar alliance is formed with parties which were otherwise political foes of each other in the erstwhile state of J&K. This meeting is crucial and yet it presents a catch-22 situation for the participating parties. The centre is playing its cards very close to its chest. Hence, Gupkar alliance leaders do not know what exactly will pan out of the meeting. On the other hand, they do not want to be seen irresponsible by letting go an opportunity to talk with the centre. If nothing substantial comes out of the meeting, they also stand to lose credibility in the eyes of their supporters in J&K. The centre, at the other end has not much to lose, as it is already facing credibility damage due to the second wave of Covid19, a mangled and decimated economy, bungled vaccination, continuing farmers’ movement and suppression of voices of protests among students and civil society.

Also Read: Congress backs Gupkar Declaration while P Chidambaram calls abrogation of Article 370 ‘unconstitutional’

The parties that will meet PM visibly have at least an iota of advantage in terms of their demands and the current back-foot standing of the centre on various issues.

Let us glance through what various people from different parties had to say ahead of the crucial meeting today.

M Y Tarigami of Gupkar allaince

Peoples Alliance for Gupkar Declaration is a union of different political parties. The alliance wants the central government to restore pre-August 2019 status which includes statehood and Article 370. M Y Tarigami is the chief spokesman for the Gupkar Alliance. He said that the leaders will seek something which is theirs. He said that the leaders will seek support of Congress party. Tarigami commented that the meeting is an opportunity to present the views of PAGD. He said that the Gupkar alliance will discuss everything around Article 35A and Article 370 and that the restoration of statehood is the topmost priority.

Ghulam Nabi Azad & P Chidambaram of Congress

INC was first opposed to the scrapping of Article 370. The party leaders had said that they want restoration of full statehood for Jammu and Kashmir. Ghulam Nabi Azad, a senior Congress leader and former Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha, said that the demand for full statehood will be at the top of the agenda for the Congress party. Rajya Sabha MP and Congress leader P Chidambaram also took to Twitter presenting his views. Chidambaram said that Congress must push for Jammu and Kashmir’s full statehood.

Altaf Bukhari of J&K Apni party

The J&K Apni Party hit out at the Centre for not inviting it to the meeting. But, it said that they are hopeful of a solution from the meeting. J&K Apni Party’s Altaf Bukhari said, “As a representative of J&K, it is our firm belief that our issues will be resolved by New Delhi, not by Islamabad, Washington, or London.”

Bukhari said that the PM had started a process on March 14, 2020. On that day, a delegation of the Apni Party had met the PM and now he has called an all-party meeting. Bukhari said, “PM should find a way to assuage the pain caused by the abrogation of Article 370. Statehood of J&K should be reinstated, the democratic institution should be restored & elections should be held.”

Sajjad Gani Lone of J&K people’s conference

Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Conference is a party formed by former separatists-turned-mainstream politician Sajjad Gani Lone. He appreciated the initiative by the Prime Minister and hoped that the meeting evolves into something bigger facilitating the restoration of democracy in the Union Territory. There was a need for a new social contract between the people of Jammu and Kashmir and New Delhi, said the party’s spokesperson. Peoples Conference, headed by Sajad Gani Lone, had pulled out of PAGD and caused a huge setback to the efforts of the Gupkar alliance.

 Also Read: Land laws and associated acts of J&K changed by the Central government, Gupkar alliance calls this a “huge betrayal”

Dogra front

Members of the Dogra Front today staged a protest in Jammu against Peoples Democratic Party chief Mehbooba Mufti. A protester said, “This protest is against Mufti’s statement which she gave after the Gupkar meeting that Pakistan is a stakeholder in the Kashmir issue. She should be put behind bars.”

Mehbooba Mufti had been giving controversial statements since the abrogation of Article 370. She had even said that she would not hoist tricolour unless they are allowed to raise the flag of Jammu and Kashmir.

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Gupkar alliance will attend an all-party meeting with PM; restoration of statehood on cards

Farooq abdullah, Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba mufti

Today Gupkar Alliance of Jammu and Kashmir, said that they will attend an all-party meeting this Thursday with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The alliance is led by veteran politician Farooq Abdullah. The all party meeting will have important agenda to be covered as per sources with knowledge of the matter.

Last week, sources said that PM Modi called for the all-party meeting. This development comes amid reports that the Centre may discuss restoration of statehood. The discussion may also cover other important issues concerning the union territory. This is PM Modi’s first major outreach to end the political impasse over ending thespecial status of J&K in 2019.

Also Read:Congress backs Gupkar Declaration while P Chidambaram calls abrogation of Article 370 ‘unconstitutional’

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti was among those who participated in the second meeting of the People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD). Among other things, the meeting discussed the Centre’s invitation for the all-party meeting with the Prime Minister.

Dr Abdullah said,”Mehbooba-ji, MdTarigami sahib and I will attend the all-party meeting called by PM. We hope to keep our agenda before PM and HM (Home Minister).” He added that they will put forth their demands for the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status and statehood.

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On Thursday, former Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah would be representing the National conference party at the meeting with Prime Minister NarendraModi. A source familiar with the internal talks had indicated, “FarooqSahab could be accompanied by Mehboobaji or Tarigami. Final decision will be taken within next two days”.

The Gupkar Alliance is a seven-party alliance of mainstream parties which was formed to campaign for the restoration of special status to J&K.

Ms Mufti said, “Statehood (for Jammu and Kashmir) is the Prime Minister’s own commitment. They would not be doing us a favour by giving us statehood back. Gupkar Alliance has been formed for the restoration of what was taken away from us on August 5, 2019.”

Another alliance member Muzaffar Shah said,”There can be no compromise on Article 370 and 35A.”

In this context, last FridayHome Minister Amit Shah met National Security Adviser AjitDoval, Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and top security and intelligence officers.In August 2019, the Centre ended the special status to J&K and divided the state into two Union Territories, Jammu and Kashmir &Ladakh.

Just before the Centre announced the big decisions in parliament, top leaders in J&K including Ms Mufti, Farooq Abdullah and Omar Abdullah were arrested. The three former chief ministers were released later, with Omar Abdullah released after nearly 8 months.

Also Read:Land laws and associated acts of J&K changed by the Central government, Gupkar alliance calls this a “huge betrayal”

Earlier this month, it was reported that the Centre was likely to start the political process that has been virtually non-existent since 2019.

The Centre is also expected to discuss assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir. The assembly elections in J&K are due since 2018, when the BJP snapped ties with its coalition partner and then Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti.In December, local body polls in Jammu and Kashmir were held. The Gupkar Alliance won more than 100 seats and the BJP emerged as the single largest party with 74 seats.

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DDC election update: Gupkar alliance takes lead in the DDC election held in J&K

Gupkar_Alliance

As per the trends of counting of votes for the 280 District Development Council constituencies in Jammu and Kashmir, the People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) took the lead against its archrival, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

In terms of leads, the Congress and the Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party (JKAP) are at distant third and fourth positions, respectively.

The polling was held over eight phases from November 28 to December 19. Out of the 57 lakh eligible voters, 51.42 percent had exercised their franchise in the DDC elections, which was conducted quite peacefully. The DDC elections hold great significance as it was the first major electoral exercise in the Valley since the abrogation of Article 370 last year in August.

Till now, counting is over for 263 out of the 280 constituencies. Till now, the People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration has won 111 (Lead in 81, Won 30). The Bharatiya Janata Party till now won 64 (Lead 56, Won 8). The Indian National Congress has won 23 (Lead 19, Won 4), Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party has won 12 (Lead 7, Won 5) and others  are at 53 (Lead 35, Won 18).

The Gupkar alliance, a grouping of seven mainstream J&K-based parties including the National Conference and Mehbooba Mufti’s People’s Democratic Party (PDP) had come together and allied with one another to restore Article 370 and thereby return J&K to its special status, which was revoked last year ensuing much debate.

Farooq Abdullah of the NC was elected as the Chairman of the PAGD, while PDP’s Mehbooba Mufti was made the Vice-Chairperson. Abdullah had earlier said that the alliance is an “anti-BJP” platform and not an “anti-national” one.

Gupkar Declaration

A day before the central government had announced the abrogation of Article 370 and revoking J&K’s special status, political parties in the state (barring the BJP) had met at Farooq Abdullah’s home in Srinagar, on Gupkar Road. Leaders from all parties then issued a joint statement in defence of Article 370, which is referred to as the “Gupkar Declaration”.

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Land laws and associated acts of J&K changed by the Central government, Gupkar alliance calls this a “huge betrayal”

J&K had its special protection based land laws revoked and changed recently, as per which an Indian resident (from anywhere in India) is now eligible to purchase or sell land in the Union Territory. Government of India has amended the land laws and revoked the special status protection laws, which the permanent residents of J&K enjoyed earlier. However, as an important rider, these amended laws are only restricted to J&K and are not applicable in Ladakh.

As per the reformed laws, outsiders are now allowed to buy and sell agricultural and urban lands in J&K, permit the industrial set up for development, can allow contract farming on the agricultural lands, and insulate their ‘zones’ as per the development plan. This was not possible earlier, since the ownership remained in the hands of the permanent residents only. In addition to this, non-agricultural workers do not have any area restrictions when it comes to buying the land and cultivating it. No land area restriction is imposed on setting up a resident or a local shop in J&K as it is there in Himachal Pradesh and other hilly areas in India.

Government occupied land for industrial and commercial uses can now be sold to anyone, as compared to the earlier scenario when only permanent residents were allowed to purchase such land.

Omar Abdullah, the Vice President of the National Conference gave a statement on this decision taken by the Centre, “J&K has been put up for sale and left bereft of any basic protections. The amendments add to the fear of demographic changes. They want to alter the character of this place.”

People’s Alliance for the Gupkar Declaration – an alliance of the major political parties of J&K such as the National Conference, People’s Conference, CPM, PDP, and CPI called this move by the Union government as a “huge betrayal”. They described this decision by the center as an assault on the basic rights of all the J&K residents.

However, not all of the protection acts have been lifted, as the government has only reformed these acts with certain modifications. As per Section 133 H of the Agrarian Reforms Act, the sale of agricultural land cannot be made to a non-agriculturist. Although, this can happen under certain circumstances, where the land can be given to “a Company or a Corporation or a Board established by or under a statute and owned and controlled by the Government or a Government Company as defined in the Companies Act, 2013.”

The major land laws and acts that have been revoked are – The Jammu and Kashmir Alienation of Land Act, Samvat 1995, The Jammu and Kashmir Big Landed Estates Abolition Act, Samvat 2007, the Jammu and Kashmir Common Lands (Regulation) Act, 1956, and The Jammu and Kashmir Consolidation of Holding Act, 1962.

The author is a student member of Amity Centre of Happiness.