Statehood first
Ghulam Nabi Azad senior Congress leader and former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir in the all party meeting held by the Prime Minister has said that first statehood should be restored and then the election should be held.
This view was expressed not only by Azad but by most of the leaders from Jammu and Kashmir who attended this all party meeting. Many of the leaders hailed the efforts of the Prime Minister to normalize the relationship between Srinagar and New Delhi and also the efforts of the government of India post ceasefire to normalize relationship with Pakistan.
Mehbooba Mufti told the media that she complimented the Prime Minister for engaging Pakistan and ensuring the ceasefire along the line of control in Jammu and Kashmir. She said for the peace of the people of J&K if the government has to again talk to Pakistan it should. She also pressed for the opening of the Cross LoC trade and travel, closed since August 2019, between J&K and Muzaffarabad.
The all party meeting was an ice breaker between Srinagar and New Delhi and all the leaders who participated in this meeting said that the Prime Minister was all listening when they were expressing their hearts.
They said that in future there would be more talks between the Jammu and Kashmir leadership and New Delhi and most of them expressed hope that the uncertainty will end with the holding of elections and restoration of statehood.
