J&K: Leaders Recall Manmohan Singh’s Kashmir Initiatives, Hail Him As A Statesman Committed To Harmony And Resolution | Photo- Mirwaiz Umar Farooq X Handle J&K: Leaders Recall Manmohan Singh’s Kashmir Initiatives, Hail Him As A Statesman Committed To Harmony And Resolution | Photo- Mirwaiz Umar Farooq X Handle

With the political situation in Jammu and Kashmir drastically altered after the abrogation of Article 370 and the bifurcation of the region into Union Territories, political leaders today recalled former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh for his Kashmir initiative.

Across ideological divides, Dr. Singh is being praised as a statesman committed to harmony and seeking a lasting resolution.

Mirwaiz Umar Farooq praised former Dr Manmohan Singh saying he believed in open borders and lasting peace with neighbors and engaged with the Hurriyat Conference with an open mind. Mirwaiz called him a statesman committed to harmony and resolution.

On the other hand, South Korea secured their first win of the tournament with a 3-2 victory over China. Goals from Hyeonhong, Junghoo, and Jihun (55') clinched the win for their side.

China got off to a positive start as they kept the ball under control, and made it difficult for the Koreans to break through.

“Saddened by the demise of Dr. Manmohan Singh Ji. I recall our meetings, both during his tenure as PM and before, where his sincerity towards dialogue on Kashmir and fostering people-to-people contact across borders was evident. He believed in open borders and lasting peace with neighbors and engaged with us in Hurriyat with an open mind. A statesman committed to harmony and resolution. Condolences to his family, May his soul rest in peace,” reads a tweet of Mirwaiz.

Also Read | Manmohan Singh (1932-2024): The Gentle Giant

Mirwaiz also posted pictures of a meeting of the Hurriyat leaders, including Prof Abdul Gani, Fazal Haq Qurashi, Bilal Gani Lone, Moulana Abbas Ansari.

Former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti said she had the privilege of meeting Dr. Manmohan Singh, and she was certain that he was one of the most humble and gentle souls she encountered—an extremely rare trait in politicians today.

“His humility and kindness were evident even during his double tenure as Prime Minister when he would personally return calls. Despite the challenges he faced, Dr. Singh worked tirelessly to advance the peace process and usher in a new era of development in Jammu and Kashmir. He was a man of few words whose welfare schemes brought relief to millions of Indians cutting across caste, creed, and religion.”

National Conference president Dr Farooq Abdullah said Dr Manmohan Singh took steps to rehabilitate Kashmiri Pandits. Dr. Abdullah said if anyone has taken any big step for the rehabilitation of Kashmiri pandits, it was Dr Manmohan Singh.

In 2009, under Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's leadership released the Prime Minister’s package for return and rehabilitation to Kashmiri migrants in Kashmir Valley.

Under the package, a person belonging to Kashmiri pandit family and has migrated from Kashmir Valley after November 1, 1989, and is registered with the Relief Commissioner is entitled to job and relief.

Under the package, a person who has migrated from Kashmir Valley after November 1, 1989, but has not been unable to register himself with the relief commissioner is also entitled to the relief and job. An internally displaced person who has migrated within Valley from his original place of residence in Kashmir Valley for security reasons and is registered with the Relief and Rehabilitation Commissioner, Migrants can avail benefits but has to get a certificate from Deputy Commissioner concerned that he belongs to Kashmiri Pandit family.

In UPA-Ist, the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh also set up five working groups on Jammu and Kashmir in March 2006 and started Roundtable Dialogue. At the same time, he continued the dialogue process with the Hurriyat Conference initiated by the NDA government.

Read More | A Timeline Of Dr Manmohan Singh’s

In January 2004, the Hurriyat leaders led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq held dialogue with the then Deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani in New Delhi. Later on September 6, 2005, and on May 3, 2006, the Hurriyat Conference held talks with the Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh in the UPA Ist.

 In the UPA Ist Dr Singh started broader dialogue with the elected representatives of Jammu and Kashmir after the government established five working groups on Jammu and Kashmir.

The four working groups later submitted their reports in April 2007 to the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. The fifth Group on Centre-State relations headed by Justice (retired) Saghir Ahmed, retired Supreme Court judge submitted its report on December 23, 2009 to the then Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.

Justice Saghir in his report had said that it was for people of Jammu and Kashmir to decide how long to continue Article 370 in its present form and when to make it permanent or abrogate.  The group went further, saying the demand for autonomy “can be examined in the light of the Kashmir Accord or… on the basis of some other formula as the present Prime Minister may deem appropriate so as to restore the autonomy to the extent possible”.

The second group headed by M. Rasgotra suggested a joint consultative group of 10 members each of the legislatures on both sides of the Line of Control (LoC) to periodically exchange views on social, economic, cultural and trade affairs. His report stated the governments of Jammu and Kashmir and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) “may be encouraged to undertake consultations, as necessary, for the provision of disaster and relief measures during calamities and epidemics.”

It asked for opening up of the following routes: Kargil-Skardu, Jammu-Saikote, Turtuk- Khanpula, Chamb-Jorian-Mirpur, Gurez-Astoor-Gilgit, Titwal-Chilhan (across Neelam valley) and Jhangar (Nowshera)- Mirpure-Kotli.

The working group on “Ensuring Good Governance” which submitted its’ report on March 2007 to the Prime Minister Singh was headed by N.C Saxena. The report had recommended appointment of Chief Information Commissioner for the state and departmental information officers for effective implementation of right to information Act.

It had asked for e-governance, computerization of land records, computerization of sub-register’s office, setting up of information kiosks, mass training of government functionaries, websites for each government departments, introducing e-governance in police procedures for filing FIRs or for getting verification done for passport.

A working group led by M. Hamid Ansari, former Vice President of the country, had sought strengthening of the State Human Rights Commission and constitution of an empowered committee to report regularly on the action taken on its recommendations. Apart from offering a revised rehabilitation package to victims of militancy, it suggested extending the existing scholarship scheme. It asked for an assessment of the number of Kashmiri youth willing to return from Pakistan Occupied Kashmir for their return and rehabilitation. It wanted law and order to be tackled under normal laws and recommended revocation of Armed Forces Special Powers Act.

Another group headed by Dr C. Rangarajan recommended that the state's share of free power in the National Hydel Power Corporation projects should be enhanced from the existing 12 per cent. The committee proposed the transfer of the 390 MW Dulhasti Power project to the state government. It suggested creating a `200-crore Asset Reconstruction Company. It also favoured allocation of ` 400 crore for adult literacy and urban employment and ` 200 crore for Special Industrial Zone.lucky sprite