Union Home Minister Amit Shah will chair an important meeting on Jammu and Kashmir in New Delhi on Tuesday to discuss security concerns, holding of grassroots polls, and other significant matters.
Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval, and heads of intelligence and security agencies from the state will attend the meeting. The meeting gains significance due to the increasing attacks on security forces in the Pir Panjal region, encompassing the Rajouri and Poonch districts.
The deaths of three civilians allegedly in the custody of security forces following an attack on security personnel, which resulted in the loss of four soldiers’ lives and injuries to three others on December 21 at Dera Ki Gali in Thanamandi, Poonch, will also be discussed.
Other topics include deliberations on holding elections for Rural and Urban Local Bodies in Jammu and Kashmir. The five-year term of the Urban Local Bodies concluded in November-December last year while the Rural Local Bodies (Panchayats) are scheduled to cease functioning on January 9 this year.
The tenure of Block Development Councils (BDCs) is also nearing its end. Election delays were attributed to the inclusion of reservations for Other Backward Classes (OBCs) alongside women, Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs).
The Union Territory government amended the Panchayati Raj Act to include reservations for OBCs and similar amendments are expected soon in the Jammu and Kashmir Municipal Corporations Act and the Jammu and Kashmir Municipalities Act. The timeline for conducting Municipal and Panchayat elections in Jammu and Kashmir will also be discussed.
Fiscal matters concerning Jammu and Kashmir are also on the agenda, along with discussions on generating more job opportunities and expediting recruitment.
A review of the J&K Industrial Policy, which has attracted investment proposals worth nearly Rs 85,000 crore, will be carried out to expedite the implementation of these proposals to benefit local youth in terms of employment.
