news details |
|
|
| Saghir Ahmed's report has simply kindled regional passions | | |
Nirbhay Jammual
Early Times Report
Jammu,December 26 :-The report of the fifth working Group,that was constituted on the recommendations of Prime Minister,Manmohan Singh,has,if not anything else,allowed a chance for the people and the politicians to react on the basis of regional passions.The Kashmir valley centric political parties,especially the National Conference and the PDP,seem to be cheerful.The National Conference leadership believes that the report prepared by Justice Saghir Ahmed has vindicated its stand on the issue.The PDP leadrship believes that it is the beginning and hopes that ultimately the Centre may have to opt for the self-rule concept.
Against this the Jammu centric politicians are highly critical of the report on the plea that all the members of the working Group were not taken into confidence and no meeting of the Group had been held during the last two years.The BJP leaders have fears that restoration of greater autonomy could further weaken the process of integration between Jammu and Kashmir and rest of the country.It is annoyed because the Group has not favoured setting up of delimitation commission.The Panthers Party leaders hold the same views while criticising the Group report.
Political analysts are of the opinion that the report may once again kick up regional passions which was bound to disturb the security and the political situation.But the National Conference leaders believe that once greater autonomy was restored people in the valley could have one satisfaction that they have achieved something after the 20-year long turmoil.They say that people will have a feeling that the state of Jammu and Kashmir was no longer an Indian colony when the pre-1953 practice of having an elected Governor and that too who is a state subject and Article 356 of the constitution of India not applicable to the state.
But the separatists have a different idea.They say that the 20-year long Jehad was not being fought for simply getting greater autonomy restored.They say the Jehad was meant to force Delhi to settle the Kashmir issue.According to them the Kashmir issue was alive when the state enjoyed greater autonomy between 1947 and 1952 and consequently it will be wrong to believe that once greater autonomy was restored it could result in the resolution of the Kashmir issue.They and other political analysts opine that rstoration of greater autonomy could ensure a new political and administrative arrangement between Kashmir and Delhi and not beyond that.
The PDP leadership too is of the firm opinion that greater autonomy addresses only the internal dimensions of the Kashmir problem whereas the concept of self-rule addresses both the internal and the external dimensions of the Kashmir issue.Explaining it a senior PDP leader,Nizam-ud-Din Bhat says self-rule concept is a modified and improved version of the National Conference slogan of greater autonomy.He is of the view that self-rule idea provides for open border,increased people to people contact,more routes to be opened for trade and travel,demilitarisation,scrapping of the AFSPA and joint managment.This covers,he adds,the entire gamut of issues that have the potential of resolving the Kashmir issue.
However,the BJP leaders believe that while greater autonomy could weaken the process of states' integration with India self-rule concept could take Kashmir away from the jurisdiction of India.They do not agree with the idea that implementation of greater autonomy concept or that of self-rule could resolve the Kashmir issue because Islamabad has been in favour of Kashmir's incorporation with Pakistan.(eom)\ |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
