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With region’s autonomy in focus, leaders of occupied Kashmir to meet Narendra Modi today

New Delhi: The leaders and politicians of occupied Kashmir will urge Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to restore the autonomy of occupied Jammu and Kashmir when they hold a meeting with him today for the first talks since his government took away the region's special status two years ago.

Published 5 years ago on Jun 25th 2021, 1:49 am

By Web Desk

According to details, Indian premier will meet political leaders of Jammu and Kashmir at his Delhi residence at 3 pm today since Modi led Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) scrapped of special status of occupied Kashmir under Article 370 on August 05, 2019.

Indian media reported that fourteen leaders from eight political parties, including Mehbooba Mufti's Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the National Conference, have been invited to the meeting.

The parties in the alliance of Mehbooba Mufti and National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah have also confirmed attending the meeting along with the Congress.

India on August 05, 2019 in a unilateral move abrogated Articles 370 and 35A granting special status to occupied Kashmir. The move was followed by imposition of curfew and communication blackout in the valley still intact after one year and ten months.

On October 31, 2019 India formally divided the state of Jammu and Kashmir in to two new federally-administered territories as per the constitutional changes approved by the Indian parliament on August 5.

According to the new arrangement, the occupied Kashmir is divided into two union territories: Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, which borders China. The two new union territories are now ruled directly from the capital Delhi. As per Indian constitution, union territories have far less autonomy from the federal government than states do.

Pakistan has, ever since, been raising its voice against Indian atrocities and gross human rights violations in Kashmir. Prime Minister Imran Khan also, in his historic speech at UNGA session last year, also highlighted how India has illegally imposed curfew and lockdown in the valley. He also warned the world that the worst humanitarian crisis could unfold in Kashmir followed by a possibility of war between the two nuclear states.

Even the international media, on several occasions, has highlighted the deteriorating situation in Kashmir resulting from the persistent curfew and lockdown.