1 / 7Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to discuss restoring Jammu and Kashmir (J&K)’s statehood when he meets mainstream political parties from the region on Thursday.
2 / 7The government is reportedly considering announcing statehood for J&K, but the move might have to wait till a delimitation commission set up early last year submits its report.
3 / 7The developments come after months of strategising by NSA Doval, who spearheaded the process and even talked to separatists in the Valley in order to bring everyone on board.
4 / 7The delimitation commission seeks to redraw the electoral map of J&K by creating more constituencies — a long-pending demand of parties in Jammu, where the BJP is strong.
5 / 7Fourteen leaders of eight political parties in Jammu and Kashmir have been invited to the meeting that will be chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on June 24 to discuss the future course of action for the Union Territory.
6 / 7The meeting is significant, as it is being viewed as the beginning of direct talks between the Valley’s leadership and the Centre at this scale.
7 / 7It will be interesting to know how National Conference and the PDP, who are opposed to the delimitation exercise, react to this development.
