New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said his government will work with all sections of the population for restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir “at an early opportunity”.
A 24-member delegation of the newly formed Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party, led by its leader Altaf Bukhari, called on the Prime Minister at his residence Saturday evening and Modi engaged with them on various issues like concerns on demographic changes, the delimitation exercise and grant of state domicile, officials said.
“Referring to his statement in Parliament, the Prime Minister underlined that the government will work with all sections of the population to realize the hopes of statehood for Jammu and Kashmir at an early opportunity,” an official statement said.
During an interactive session with the delegation, the Prime Minister also called for ‘Janbhagidari’ (people’s participation) in transforming Jammu and Kashmir and emphasised on the importance of an administration that gives voice to the people.
Modi also noted that democracy in the region could be strengthened through a fast-moving process of political integration, it said.
Meanwhile, a spokesman of Apni Party, in a statement said that a delegation of Jammu Kashmir Apni Party led by its president Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Saturday.
Later a memorandum was presented to the Prime Minister highlighting the urgent demands of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. Calling for immediate confidence building measures, the delegation emphasized on fulfillment of the promises made by the country’s leadership on the floor of Parliament.
The spokesman said that the Prime Minster assured the delegation that there will be no demographic change as apprehended by the people in Jammu and Kashmir. Modi said that the people of Jammu and Kashmir shall witness an equitable development and there will be no discrimination on the basis of religion or region in the same.
He further promised that steps would be taken to restore mutual trust and confidence among the people of Jammu and Kashmir. And among the major steps, he said, domicile law on land and jobs for residents of Jammu and Kashmir will be coming soon.
Similarly, the Prime Minister reiterated his commitment on restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir after the delimitation process is over. Modi said that the delimitation exercise would be conducted purely on the basis of merit and there shall be no political interference in the same, a party spokesman said.
On the functional autonomy of J&K Bank, the prime minister assured that he would ensure the pristine glory of the Bank is restored by making it autonomous in its functioning in coming days. The Prime Minister also assured full support of the Government of India to make Jammu and Kashmir a peaceful and prosperous region in the world, added the spokesman.
Other issues which were discussed threadbare were Demographic Changes, Restoration of Statehood, Domicile Rights on Land and Jobs, Delimitation Process on Merit, Release of Detainees, Special Economic Package, J&K Bank’s functional autonomy, Youth Policy, Return of Pandits, Employment Package, Administrative Inertia, Hassle Free Connectivity and Selective enforcement of central laws. (With PTI Inputs)
