The Jammu and Kashmir Study Centre UK (JKSC), a think-tank dedicated to research on the Jammu and Kashmir region, organised an event in the Houses of Parliament in London this week to commemorate “Sankalp Divas”, or Resolution Day.
The day refers to the unanimous resolution passed by both Houses of the Indian Parliament on 22 February 1994, reaffirming India's stance that the entire region of Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of the country.
The gathering included members of the British Parliament, local councillors, community leaders, representatives from various organisations, and prominent members of the Indian diaspora. Conservative Party MPs Bob Blackman and Theresa Villiers and Labour’s Virendra Sharma were among those present as the gathering heard from Yana Mir – a distinguished Kashmiri Activist, currently serving as a Senior Anchor with Bharat Express News Network. She received the Diversity Ambassador Award for championing diversity in the J&K region and outlined the progress following the abrogation of Article 370, emphasising improved security, government initiatives, and funds allocation. Yana also commended the Indian army's efforts, including deradicalisation programmes and substantial investments in youth for sports and education, countering media narratives that vilifies the Indian Army.
The event offered a comprehensive overview of the socio-cultural and political landscape of Jammu and Kashmir underscoring the diverse multicultural, multireligious and multi-linguistic nature of J&K. The parliamentarians expressed their appreciation for the shared insights and encouraged the continuation of such events to unveil the ground realities of Jammu and Kashmir, a perspective often absent from the mainstream narrative. They stressed the importance of ongoing interactions on this subject. The event culminated on a note of optimism, with participants expressing a palpable enthusiasm for further delving into the intricacies of the Jammu and Kashmir region.
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JKSC UK fervently encouraged attendees to actively engage in forthcoming discussions, emphasising the pivotal role of countering misinformation to foster a well-informed public discourse concerning the region.
As a think-tank committed to providing in-depth analysis and research on the Jammu and Kashmir region, JKSC UK serves as a credible source of comprehensive information, aiming to contribute to informed discussions and understanding of the complexities of the region.