J-Ok funds session after 7 years: Democracy revived or political posturing?

After a niche of seven years, Jammu and Kashmir’s first funds session beneath an elected authorities commenced on Monday, 3 March. The event was laden with political significance, marking the primary elected meeting for the reason that abrogation of Article 370 in 2019.

Nonetheless, the session additionally served as a stark reminder of the prevailing unrest within the area, with MLA Langate Khursheed Ahmed Sheikh of the Jammu and Kashmir Awami Ittehad Social gathering staging a protest towards civilian killings and enforced disappearances.

Khursheed, carrying a placard into the meeting premises, referred to as for justice for 2 civilians — Makhan Din and Waseem Ahmed — who have been not too long ago killed in Baramulla and Kathua, respectively.

His demand was easy but highly effective: a good probe culminating in justice for the households and compensation for the lack of their family members.

He additionally raised the urgent challenge of three youths who had ‘gone lacking’ from Devsar, Qazigund. They disappeared months in the past with no updates from the police. His protest punctured the rigorously curated narrative of normalcy and improvement that the Modi authorities and the Omar Abdullah administration have each sought to painting lately and months respectively.