NEW DELHI: With the security forces continuing to have an upper hand in Jammu & Kashmir and the state appearing to reap a “safety” dividend, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to hold a meeting of all political parties from the UT on June 24.
While the date could still be under discussion, official sources said the plan for the meeting is under consideration and has been tentatively scheduled.
The meeting will be seen as a bid to move the political process in the UT after a gradual easing of restrictions on the internet and detention of political leaders. The agenda ahead includes completion of the delimitation exercise and holding of assembly elections for the installation of a government.
Union home minister Amit Shah Friday reviewed the situation in the sensitive Union territory, sparking speculation about a possible political initiative.
J&K LG Manoj Sinha attended the review held amid a steady decline in terrorist incidents, local recruitment, and infiltration this year: gains which would not have looked possible until recently. This has enabled the administration to push the coverage of central schemes to 90% and vaccination coverage to 76% of the population aged 45 years and above.
At the meeting, Shah noted the improved security scenario and expanded the reach of central schemes, and stressed the need to speed up the implementation of the Prime Minister's development package and other industrial projects.
The meeting was held against the backdrop of speculation that the Centre was exploring the possibility of building upon the relative peace to take political measures,
When contacted sources refrained from confirming whether likely political steps also figured in the meeting. "The focus was on development and vaccination and let us keep it at that", said a senior source stopping well short of denying that a political initiative was discussed.
At the separate security review on J&K chaired by Shah on Friday - where NSA Ajit Doval, heads of Central intelligence agencies and para-military forces and J&K DGP were present - the statistics appeared to confirm the upper hand for security forces. Terrorist incidents were down to around 40 till May 31 this year, as compared to 238 in the whole of 2020. As many as 52 terrorists were killed by forces in the first five months of 2021.
At his meeting with Sinha, Shah complimented the LG and his team for the success of the Covid-19 vaccination drive in J&K, with 76% of the 45-plus population having been vaccinated and four districts – Ganderbal, Shopian, Jammu and Samba - achieving 100% vaccination in this category.
The success of the ‘J&K vaccination model’ can be attributed to special initiatives including door-to-door vaccination and a conscious bid to help people overcome vaccine hesitancy by involving community and religious leaders to bust the vaccine ‘myths
Shah, during Friday’s review meeting attended by Central and J&K government brass, asked for speedy implementation of PM’s package and other development projects, particularly the start of 3000 MW Pakal Dul and Keeru hydroelectric projects and fast-tracking of other 3300 MW projects.
He directed officials to organize training for the members of the panchayats and urban local bodies for better grassroots governance. He also suggested that the panchayat representatives visit various parts of the country to observe the working of developed panchayats there.
Officials said the development push in J&K would not have been possible but for the steady improvement in security scenario since 2018.
Sources said local recruitment in J&K declined with 42 youths joining terror ranks till May 31 this year as compared to around 180 through 2020. Even infiltration has fallen drastically and many feel this would have brought the total number of active terrorists in J&K lower to the ‘usual’ figure of 200-300.
An official told TOI that successes on the security front have created a conducive environment to push development initiatives in J&K. While reviewing the development initiatives on Friday, Shah called for widening the scope of MGNREGA to provide employment to more people. He spoke about the use of modern techniques in agriculture to increase the income of the farmers, seeking the setting up of at least one agro-based industry in each district. He said work should be done to increase the quality and density of apple production in UT.
Shah directed the J&K administration to ensure that all farmers were provided benefits of agriculture-based schemes such as Pradhan Mantri Kisan Yojana.
The minister suggested that it be ensured that the benefits of the industrial policy reach the small-scale industries. He lauded the efforts for providing employment to youth and institutional reforms like geo-tagging of all development works that are put in public domain, etc
Shah directed that it be ensured that benefits of the refugee package reach the migrants from PoJK, West Pakistan and those who had to migrate from Kashmir to Jammu, at the earliest.