Kashmir: Positive changes in Jammu and Kashmir after abrogation of Art 370, Kashmiri Politicians briefed European Parliamentarians – an Eye-opener for the world.
In an encouraging development, a delegation from the Kashmir valley was invited to participate in a conference entitled “Grassroot Democracy in Kashmir, A road towards Democratic Empowerment”. The conference was organised by EPP political group at the European Parliament during Gender equality week by the European institutions to showcase the empowerment of women and girls mainly in conflict zones.
Phenomenal Changes in Kashmir at grassroot levels
Kashmir time and again features in the news for the continuing conflict and its relevance to two Geo political regional powers, however, in the past few years, there have been some phenomenal changes made at the grassroots level to affect and impact the lives of common citizens in Jammu and Kashmir. However, the lives in the other part of Kashmir that is illegitimately occupied by Pakistan remain as miserable as ever.
MEP Daniela Rondinelli opened the discussions by welcoming the Kashmiri delegation. Whilst extolling the efforts of youth and female leaders to establish peace and dialogue and to build a brighter future for the coming generations, Daniela stressed the need to work closely with the EU to maintain peace and security in the region.
Mobilization of a new Political Force through 3-tier governance
Addressing the audience, Safina Baig, Chairperson of the District Development Council in Kashmir highlighted the fact that ‘Jammu and Kashmir’, a region which was struggling with cross-border terrorism and conflict, for more than three decades, has seen the mobilization of a new political force through the emergence of a three-tiered system of local governance.” She added that
“Sadly, this major initiative aimed at empowering the local population has been long eclipsed by a continuous conflict narrative. As a result, the genuine efforts to establish a system of accountable, effective, and transparent governance go overlooked”.
Young leadership behind change in Kashmir valley
She further added that the reason behind this heartening change is the young leadership which has the overwhelming support of the common man who was by far the worst sufferer of sporadic violence perpetrated by state and non-state actors from across the border. This new leadership represents the aspirations of the common people to build positive peace through the stable and significant development of a democratic process. While engaging people for the establishment of a democratic order they have to confront many gruelling challenges, at times threat perception from the extremist forces acts as one of the most detrimental causes thwarting their acts of normalization.
Safina on her part appreciated the interaction between parliamentarians from the European Union and India and hopes that such exchanges of ideas shall continue in future – something that will be mutually beneficial for both democracies and at the same time provide meaningful impetus to their efforts in bringing normalcy in the valley.
A dynamic crusader, Human Rights Activist Mir Junaid from Kashmir, cited that “We are growing, coming together and we have been steadfast despite the threat of terror from across the border”.
He said, “What we seek is ethical support from the world in our journey to stability. Our only enemy is terrorism and the world must not forget that terrorism anywhere is a threat to the whole of humanity and must not be allowed to exist at any cost in any part of the world at the expense of peace and harmony.
Members of Parliament Annalisa Tardino, Caterina Chinnici and Luisa Regimenti as well as Salvatore de Meo, a member of the EU delegation to India expressed their solidarity while supporting women’s rights and youth leadership in Kashmir and congratulated the guest speakers for their immense efforts in bringing peace and security in the region.
Proactive People’s Representation can be the Game-Changer in Kashmir
They acknowledged the progressive ideas of the common man in Kashmir and reiterated that people’s representation can be the game changer in the valley. They also conveyed their satisfaction that a definite road map has now been built to give shape to the aspirations of the millions of innocent Kashmiris and align it with the development story of the rest of India.
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The conference was followed by a debate with the presence of the Indian diaspora in Belgium as well as the European young leaders who deliberated upon various misgivings and canards about Kashmir, deliberately spread by vested interests and welcomed such conferences where the various illusions around Kashmir are unmasked.
Undoubtedly, such conferences are going to uncover vicious and deliberate attempts of distorting the ‘facts of Kashmir’ and also enable the world over to have a more factual insight.
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