PM Modi's mission: Removing Dilli aur dil ki doori | OPINION

 New Delhi was confident of being on top of the situation before handing out invites to those who had in the past represented people of Jammu and Kashmir, participated in the democratic process and believed in the Indian Constitution, writes Gaurav C Sawant.

The message the Centre conveyed was to look to the future and focus on development in J&K.

It was Prime Minister Narendra Modi's mega outreach to the leadership of Jammu and Kashmir, the first after the J&K Reorganisation Act 2019. It saw 14 leaders from both Jammu and Kashmir regions including four former chief ministers and deputy chief ministers arrive in the national capital. The meeting was to be an ice-breaker after the freeze post-August 5, 2019, when Jammu and Kashmir's special status was scrapped and the state was bifurcated into two Union Territories.

In the past week, there was much apprehension that the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir may be bifurcated further and Pakistan caught completely unawares in 2019, ran around like headless chicken only to embarrass itself once again.

The Centre's outreach to leaders of Jammu and Kashmir was to know their mind and share the Centre's views on the road ahead.

Jammu and Kashmir is very close to the prime minister's heart and the August 5, 2019-action was the fulfilment not just of the BJP manifesto but its core ideology of Ek Nishan, Ek Vidhan and Ek Pradhan (One Flag, One Constitution and One Head of State).

The subtext of the meeting was — "Ek desh mein Ek vidhan Ek Pradhan aur EK Nishan hoga [there will be one constitution, one prime minister and one flag in one India]." Prime Minister Narendra Modi endorsed Jan Sangh founder Syama Prasad Mookerjee's dream on the leader's 68th death anniversary.

The successful completion of District Development Council (DDC) election was an indicator of the situation on the ground.

Before this meeting, the defence minister, the home minister and the national security advisor had worked furiously to secure all flanks ensuring peace along the borders and the hinterland.

There had been a series of meetings where the lieutenant governor and the heads of intelligence agencies and central police organisations gave their assessment of the ground situation.

New Delhi was confident of being on top of the situation before handing out invites to those who had in the past represented people of Jammu and Kashmir, participated in the democratic process and believed in the Indian Constitution.

There was a buzz in the air ahead of the meeting, and it got off to a flying start. The prime minister not only heard all the leaders but also walked to each one of them after the meeting and personally interacted with them.

The message the Centre conveyed was to look to the future and focus on development in Jammu and Kashmir. The Centre has urged political parties to participate in the delimitation exercise and by and large has an assurance of forward movement, though National Conference leader Omar Abdullah was clear about having reservations about the exercise.

PM Narendra Modi during the all-party meet with leaders from Jammu and Kashmir in Delhi. (Photo: PTI)

Speaking to journalists he said if the aim of the August 5, 2019-exercise was to complete the integration of Jammu and Kashmir with the rest of the country then why delimitation was only being carried out in J&K.

Valley-based parties are apprehensive about losing their numerical superiority post the exercise. Jammu on the other hand is hopeful that the delimitation exercise will set right a historical wrong.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's big push was to focus on the future generation of Jammu and Kashmir. All stakeholders should sink their differences and work together so that the people of both Jammu and Kashmir regions could benefit.

All Valley-based parties remained clear about the restoration of Article 370, special status and full statehood but the Centre put the ball in the Supreme Court where the issue is to be settled.

Omar Abdullah also made it very clear that full statehood meant Jammu and Kashmir cadre for IAS (Indian Administrative Service) and IPS (Indian Police Service) remain and not be merged with the Union Territory Cadre which is the current situation.

Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad spoke of raising five main points — full statehood, election, domicile laws including protection of jobs and land, the release of political detainees and of course, rehabilitation of the Kashmiri Hindus (Pandits) with dignity and honour.

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader Muzaffair Baig spoke of the meeting being held in a cordial and dignified environment and People's Conference leader Sajjad Lone spoke of emotional bonding between the prime minister and leaders who attended the meeting at the prime minister's residence at 7 Lok Kalyan Marg.

J&K Apni Party leader Altaf Bukhari said the prime minister urged all parties to participate in the delimitation exercise. BJP leaders Ravinder Raina and Nirmal Singh spoke of the prime minister's commitment to the restoration of statehood and election after the delimitation process.

PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti spoke of initiating dialogue with Pakistan for peace and prosperity in the region.

From the point of view of the leadership of J&K, especially the Valley, it is a climbdown by the Centre — the home minister had dubbed the People's Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) as 'Gupkar Gang' and the members were guests of honour at the prime minister's residence.

They all reiterated their demand for restoration of Articles 370 and 35 A. They were also able to send out a not so unsubtle message that the Centre ultimately had to accept they were the representatives of the people of Jammu and Kashmir and no new credible leadership had emerged. It, however, remains a challenge for them to bring people in the Valley on board the development train.

For the central government, it was a win to have leaders both Jammu and Kashmir regions on the high table to talk about the road ahead. The aim remains peace and prosperity in Jammu and Kashmir.

The delimitation exercise will gather steam and pave the way for assembly election and restoration of statehood as promised both by the prime minister and reiterated by the Union home minister.

The prime minister heard all participants first-hand and got an idea about their vision for the future Jammu and Kashmir.

The Centre after containing the fallout of August 5, 2019-decision now wants to build on the peace and try to bring prosperity to the people of Jammu and Kashmir through a participatory democratic process — election to the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly post-delimitation.

The ball is now in the court of the leaders of Jammu and Kashmir to take the process further.

Justice Ranjana Desai's committee has recently got a year-long extension to complete the task that had been held up due to the pandemic.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi told leaders at the 7 Lok Kalyan Marg that his aim was not only to remove 'Dilli Ki Doori' (distance from Delhi) but also 'Dil Ki Doori' (Distance from heart). Omar Abdullah said neither 'Dil nor Dilli ki doori' will end in one meeting.

And that is the crux of the matter: more engagement between the central leadership and all stakeholders in Jammu and Kashmir and fruits of development percolating to people on the ground may just play a crucial role in winning hearts and minds.

A task easier said than done.

The author is Senior Executive Editor, India Today TV and anchors India First show weeknights 10 pm on India Today and Desh Ka Gaurav weeknights 8 pm on Tez.

(Views expressed are personal)