New Delhi, March 29
With the National Conference participating for the first time in the working group on Jammu and Kashmir dealing with centre-state relations, the discussion today centred mostly around the demands relating to autonomy and Article 370.
The working group, which is part of the five groups appointed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh after the Srinagar roundtable conference last year, held its third meeting today.
While leaders from the National Conference said that "erosion of autonomy" over the years was the primary cause of "Kashmiri discontent," the BJP
maintained that terrorism, economic development and regional imbalance were the issues that needed to be addressed.
National Conference leader AR Rather said autonomy was the "cornerstone" of the relations between the Union and Jammu and Kashmir and it had been guaranteed by the Instrument of Accession and the founding fathers of the Indian Constitution. He said following "unconstitutional dismissal" of Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah in 1953, autonomy had been "violated and eroded." He said "fiddling" with state's autonomy had created political and emotional atmosphere for the turmoil which erupted in 1989. Asserting that Article 370 of the Constitution was a bridge between the state and the Centre, he said
abrogation the Article was a "constitutional impossibility." The NC leader said after expiry of the Constituent Assembly, there was no mechanism left to amend or abrogate Article 370.
Rather, who is leader of the Opposition in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly, said his party secured huge public approval when it fought the 1996 Assembly polls on the plank of autonomy. He said the autonomy report was thoroughly discussed in the state legislature and approved by an overwhelming majority.
"It is a painful fact that the central government refused to consider it and showed scant regard for democratic norms," he said.
MY Taing, another NC representative at the meeting, said separatist groups should be persuaded to join the process of dialogue.
Affirming his party's stand for abrogation of Article 370, BJP leader Arun Jaitley said issues of terrorism, development and regional imbalance should be tackled on priority in Jammu and Kashmir which had more powers than any other state in the country. He said talk of more powers would foster separatist tendencies.
Tupstan Chhewang, MP, said the Ladakh UT Front favoured abrogation of Article 370 because it was the only way to get UT status for the region.
The meeting was attended by leaders from the PDP, Panun Kashmir, Congress, CPI, CPM and the Panthers Party.
Centre's interlocutor on Jammu and Kashmir NN Vohra was also present.
The next meeting of the group, which is chaired by Justice S.Saghir Ahmad, is likely to be held in Jammu and Kashmir.
