JAMMU: The BJP on Saturday said it is confident that all the Jammu and Kashmir leaders invited to a meeting with the prime minister in Delhi to discuss the future course of action for the union territory will attend the ‘important’ deliberation.BJP Jammu and Kashmir unit president Ravinder Raina, who is among the invitees, said the meeting convened by the prime minister is in accordance with the wishes of heads of various political parties who have been seeking time from him and demanding such a meeting for a long time.As many as 14 leaders from Jammu and Kashmir, including four former chief ministers of the erstwhile state, have been invited for the meeting that will be chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on June 24.The meeting — the first such exercise since the Centre announced the abrogation of Jammu and Kashmir”s special status and its bifurcation into union territories in August 2019 — is likely to be attended by Union Home Minister Amit Shah and other central leaders.”The leaders of all political parties of J&K are meeting the prime minister in Delhi on June 24 and I have also received an invitation from the Prime Minister”s Office. All parties meeting are being convened in special circumstances and there was also a demand from various political parties for such a meeting with regard to J&K,” Raina told PTI.He thanked the prime minister for convening such a meeting after starting a new phase of development in the union territory by strengthening Panchayati Raj Institutions and giving rights to various sections of the society, including Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) refugees, West Pakistani refugees, Gujjars and Bakerwals and women, by abrogating Article 370 of the Constitution, which gave special status to the erstwhile state, in August 2019.”The block development council and District Development Council elections happened for the first time in 70 years and more powers and funds were given to PRIs and J&K is marching towards prosperity under the leadership of Modi,” Raina said.The BJP leader said he is confident that leaders of all political parties would take part in the meeting.”All invitees should take part in this important meeting for the better future of Jammu and Kashmir. The prime minister is there to hear them,” he said, adding though he was not aware of the agenda of the meeting but one can raise public issues.He said the BJP is promise bound to restore statehood to Jammu and Kashmir.”The delimitation exercise is underway and once the commission submits its report, the Elections Commission will take a decision about the holding of assembly polls in J&K. Ours is a democratic country and an elected government has its own importance as it is accountable to the public,” he said.He said the BJP is confident of forming the next government in Jammu and Kashmir with its own chief minister given the developmental work carried out by the government under the leadership of Modi and the hard work of the local unit of the BJP to mitigate the problems of the people, especially during the COVID-19 outbreak.
