Srinagar, April 11 -- In a recent political development, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah was conspicuously absent from a high-level security meeting convened by Home Minister Amit Shah. This glaring omission has raised serious concerns about Delhi's defiant engagement with Kashmir representation.

The meeting's agenda revolved around the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir, a region historically riddled with sensitive geopolitical dynamics. Despite its significance, the person most directly elected to represent the voices of the 1.44 crore citizens of J&K was not invited. This exclusion isn't just an administrative lapse; it's a political message.

So, are we witnessing a calculated sidelining of democratic structures in favor of bureauc...