The central government has agreed to review the detention of political leaders in detention under the Public Safety Act in Jammu and Kashmir.
The decision came after a three-hour-long all-party meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi with mainstream political parties of the region in Delhi on Thursday.
Sources said the demand for the release of political prisoners was made by Peoples Democratic Party chief Mehbooba Mufti. In response, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that a wrong picture has been painted about the number of leaders who are still detained under the PSA.
“The Home Minister presented data that out of the original 40 detained under the PSA, only 12 are still in custody. For them, a committee will be formed to review,” BJP leader Nirmal Singh told News18.
The Centre’s historic move to abolish the special status of Jammu and Kashmir in August 2019 led to the detention of several political leaders and activists in the Kashmir Valley. Gradually, the authorities released the detained politicians.
The leaders of the People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) also demanded the release of other prisoners, who are in jails outside the union territory. However, his demand for withdrawal of special status under Article 370 did not cut the ice with the PM.
“The Prime Minister pointed out that the challenge to (Article) 370 was under consideration. He also said that the future development of Jammu and Kashmir should be in accordance with the constitutional provisions.
Consensus on delimitation exercise
The major consensus reached from the meeting was on the exercise of delimitation.
BJP leader Ravinder Raina said that all the leaders present in the meeting have agreed to be a part of the delimitation process.
Sources also said that Amit Shah had promised that all parties would be given due representation and opportunities during the delimitation commission’s deliberations.
According to election officials, delimitation is the process of “setting the boundaries or limits of territorial constituencies in a country or province having a legislative body”.
The Union Home Minister also reiterated the commitment of the Central Government to restore statehood to Jammu and Kashmir.
According to JK leaders, PM Modi said that his government wants statehood in Jammu and Kashmir to be returned and elections to be held at the earliest. He also sought to address the concerns of the leaders regarding the distrust of the people in the Valley.
National Conference leader and former CM of the then state Omar Abdullah said that he told the PM that there is an atmosphere of mistrust between the Center and the Valley. Umar said, ‘Trust has been broken.
Echoing similar sentiments, Mehbooba Mufti said, “Muskurake PM se kaha Kasmhir ke log bahut pareshan hai…Saans le to andar kar dete hai (I told the PM with a smile that people in Kashmir are worried. They are jailed at the drop of a) hat).”
Central government sources said the meeting was held in a cordial atmosphere where all the leaders were given an opportunity to make their point and express their concerns.
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