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| Self-rule idea is PDP's nuclear mssile | | | NIRBHAY JAMMUAL
JAMMU, Oct 29: The document on self-rule,which the PDP released in Srinagar on Saturday,is,in fact,the party's main poll manifesto.Not only this,the document,which had been kept under the carpet for about a year,has been released simply to influence the mind of the voters.The document is a mirror reflecting the ideas and ideology of the PDP.Had it not planned to use it for wooing the voters the Muftis would have not kept it under lock like a nclear missile which is fired when all the other weapons become ineffective either for winning the support of people or for silencing its critics.This is exactly what the PDP leadership did.The PDP leadershp pondered over the timing of the release of the document.Finding that unfavourable winds were rocking the party's boat it decided to fire the self-rule missile.Again the pary leadership has displayed political wisdom by relesing the self-rule document and by keeping its decision on poll participation in abeyance.Why So? The PDP leadership wanted to announce its decision on whether the party will contest the election or not after guaging the reaction and respone of the people in the Kashmir valley.
The timing for the release of the self-rule document was perfect in the sense that it aimed at diluting the significnce of the autonomy resolution which the National Conference plans to include in the poll manifesto.Well in essence the self-rule concept is not materially different from the autonomy resolution except that the latter has not touched the issues pertaining to demilitarisation and to the India-Pakistan relations.Since the PDP's self-rule concept emphasises the importance of demilitarisation,repeal of the Armed Forces (Special Powers)Act,constitution of a high level committee of legislators of the undivided state for finalising the modalities for joint venture,joint trade and joint management the PDP patron Mufti Sayeed described autonomy resolution as a component of self-rule.He,in fact,wanted to convince people that implementation of the self-rule concept could lead to better relations not only between occupied Kashmir and Jammu and Kashmir but also between India and Pakistan.As for as joint management on Kashmir and demilitarisation are concerned the self-rule idea seems to be based on the four-point proposal which the former Pakistan President,Gen.Parvez Musharraf had mooted over a year ago.
The self-rule idea also favours,as is included the autonomy resolution,that a state subject be elected as the Governor of the state.It has kept the option open saying that either the members of the state legislature elect the constitutionl head or a separate electoral college be constituted.This indicates that the PDP is not in favour of accepting a nominee from the central Government to be installed as the Governor of the state.
When the self-rule document was being framed by a committee headed by Muzaffar Hussain Baig,a former Deputy Chief Minister,the relations between the then Governor,S.K.Sinha,and the then Chief Minster, Mufti Sayeed had touched the bottom.The two would not even talk and the Mufti had started distancing himself from Sinha.Thus he wants a state subject to be elected as Governor so that there was no major problem between the constitutional and the executive head.Surprisingly the Mufti aired criticism of the way the then congress Government in the centre dislodged the Sheikh Abdullah led Government and later arrested him.Had he been critical in his early political career he should not have joined the Congress.During his entire political career the Mufti hs been a staunch critic of the Sheikh.In fact the Mufti was instrumental in persuading Indira Gandhi to allow the state unit of the congress to withdraw support to the Government headed by Sheikh Abdullah in 1977.Hence the self-rule document favours that Article 356 of the Constitution of India,which provides for dismissal of a state Government by the President of India,be not made applicable to Jammu and Kashmir.Once the PDP leadership receives a positive feedback on the self-rule idea it would not hesitate taking part in the election. |
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