Almost two years since the abrogation of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to chair a meeting with all the mainstream political parties of the region on Thursday.
Fourteen leaders from regional powerhouses such as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the National Conference (NC), as well as those from the Centre’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress, among others, have been invited for the talks.
Four former chief ministers of the erstwhile state, Farooq Abdullah, Ghulam Nabi Azad, Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti, are among those invited. Most of the leaders arrived in the national capital on Wednesday evening.
CNN-News18 had earlier reported that Modi will discuss restoring Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood when he meets the mainstream parties — a significant milestone that India’s top leadership has set its eyes on after months of strategising by National Security Adviser Ajit Doval. The meeting will also discuss a blueprint to begin the political process in the Valley.