As India steps into its 72nd year of independence, PM Modi in his address highlights the issue of Jammu and Kashmir. Today the Prime Minister specifically emphasised the situation in J&K by saying that peace can only be attained in the state if the government has a peaceful approach to the problems in Kashmir. He also said that this peaceful approach can only be approached not through ‘goli and gaali’
“In Jammu and Kashmir, Atal Bihari Vajpayee ji had shown us the path and that path is right. We want to move forward on that path. Vajpayee ji had said we have to move forward to ensure Kashmir’s development on ‘Insaaniyat, Kashmiriyat and Jamhuriyat’
Speaking from the ramparts of Red Fort the PM also announced that the panchayat elections are to be held in the state once more. Proclaiming that the people from the state have been frequently meeting him and requesting him to conduct polls, the decision of holding polls has been finalised which will be held within the next few months.
“Every villager from Jammu and Kashmir has been demanding me for the past one year. The panch meet me in hundreds and they are demanding that panchayat elections should be held in the state. It is stalled for some time, but I am happy that elections will be held over the next few months and people will get to exercise their right,” he spoke in his speech.
Sources stated that Governor of J&K had been keen to hold these polls. The elections would, in turn, give the administration a chance to test the security situation ahead of assembly and Lok Sabha elections to be held next year.
The panchayat polls got delayed in 2016 because of the disruption caused following the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen. Last year, the polls were canceled due to security concerns and other security issues. The BJP-PDP government led by Mehbooba Mufti had told the centre that the situation was ‘not conducive’ for the polls to be held.