Shazia Ambreen
It was the third foreign delegation last week that arrived in the valley after Article 370 was abrogated by the Union government in August 2019. The delegation stayed in Jammu and Kashmir for 2 days and met people from various sections including newly elected DDC members, civil society groups, social activists, journalists and the top government functionaries.
The delegation arrived in the valley to assess the situation post Article 370 abrogation and the subsequent change in the political situation. The political opponents in Kashmir and Delhi criticized the visit of European delegation and accused BJP led centre government of internationalizing the ‘internal’ issue. The opposite political leaders said that instead of inviting foreign delegation to Kashmir, it was appropriate time for New Delhi to take parliamentary panel to Kashmir for assessing situation.
The government, however, had a shot in arm after the panel returned Delhi positively and posed complete faith in the handling of the situation post August 5, 2019.
The group includes European Union (EU) ambassador Ugo Astuto, and ambassadors of key European states such as French envoy Emmanuel Lenain, Italian envoy Vincenzo de Luca, Swedish envoy Klas Molin, Irish envoy Brendan Ward and Dutch envoy Marten van den Berg and Muhammad Imran from neighbouring country Bangladesh.
The delegation at Delhi later in a statement suggested the centre government to hold the Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir as soon as possible.
“We have taken note of recent steps such as the election of District Development Councils and the resumption of 4G internet services. We look forward to a number of other important steps to be taken in the political and economic sphere, including the early organization of the legislative Assembly elections,” a EU spokesman said, in a statement issued in New Delhi.
Ahead of the visit, the Jammu Kashmir administration restored the high speed 4G internet in the region, a demand that was pending since August 5, 2019. India was facing sharp criticism for not restoring the internet in Jammu and Kashmir and in the past the move was widely criticized by the previous visiting delegations.
The delegation this time held the interaction with the recently elected grass root representatives after Jammu Kashmir administration successfully held the DDC elections. The turnout in the process was remarkable and the elections for the DDBs were held after a long forty years.
New Delhi for a long time had held Article 370 responsible for the absence of these grass root institutions. This is what was even projected to the recent visit of European delegation. The major achievement New Delhi counts in its kitty after the August 5 decision in Jammu and Kashmir.
Now the delegation winded up the tour on a very positive note. They even posed complete faith in the ongoing efforts by New Delhi and hoped to see the Assembly election must be held at the earliest. On the other hand, the Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha recently hinted that elections in the UT will be held after the process of delimitation is completed. He even urged the Member of Parliaments from NC to participate in the meetings convened by the delimitation commission, if they want election shall be held in Jammu Kashmir at earliest.
“Those who want elections in Jammu Kashmir shall be held now should also participate in the meetings of the delimitation commission,” Sinha told the media a few days ago after MP’s from Kashmir refused to attend the meeting held by the Commission in Delhi.
The comments of Sinha suggest that Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir are likely to happen only after the delimitation process is over.
