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| Though outside terms of reference ,Saghir Ahmed report still has some thing for Omar Sahib | | A Look through the mist | | Daya Sagar
Saghir Ahmed WG { Center JK State } report does not have much useful text on the subjects that related to center state relations. But Saghir Ahmed report has hinted at some issues that concern the people and regions mostly outside Kashmir valley. The NC lead Government has enough of opportunity to win some more confidence of people from outside Kashmir valley. The “Youthful” Omar Abdullah has many years still left for his political career and hence has no much risk in working beyond regional priorities and compulsions { Kashmir valley}.
Report of the Vth Working Group { constituted in May 2006 headed by Retd Justice S Saghir Ahmad } meant for Prime Minister of India was presented to JK Chief Minister Omar Abdullah at Jammu on 23 rd December 2009 . More over the report was presented by the Secretary of the Group Mr. Ajit Kumar. The working group report appeared a hurried inconclusive exercise. Otherwise Chief Minister Omar Abdullah would not have suggested the Prime Minister while presenting the report to him on 30 December that Centre should hold dialogue further with political parties on the issue of Autonomy and other issues. “Over ground separatists” leaders from Kashmir Valley had not participated in any of the working group meeting { of course they had also not accepted invitation to three Round Table Conferences chaired by Prime Minister }. {Those who call J&K a matter of political dispute of extra territorial dimensions and hold separatist ideologies negating the 1947 accession of J&K did not take part in the working group meetings and roundtable conferences.}.
The report has failed to even settle the questions being raised by mainstream groups like NC, PDP, BJP, JKNPP, BSP. So strangely even after spending over two and half years Saghir Ahmed has in a way still asked the J&K Chief Minister to study the prime issues { like Autonomy resolution and Self Rule } and present road maps for consideration of State Assembly and Government of India where ever deemed fit or practicable. What was the Working Group doing for 30 months ?. Ofcourse the report of the working group has not been endorsed by many of its members.
The report does not address that specifically and meaningfully its objective terms of reference. The issues that really mattered to turmoil hit J&K have been left unresolved. The subjects of center state relations that mattered in the context of JK {Greater Autonomy of NC, Autonomy Resolution 2000 of J&K Assembly, Self Rule of PDP and Article 370 } have been still left wide open. So strangely Mehbooba Mufti { whose party shared power with Congress when working groups were constituted } publically claimed on 24 Dec 2009 the issue of SELF RULE did not fall with in the terms of reference of WG. She in a way did not attach any creditability to even the half references on Autonomy and Self Rule made in the Saghir Ahmed Report. Both NC and PDP well know that neither Self Rule nor greater Autonomy would be so easily endorsed by New Delhi . But to secure some footing against the separatists and anti 1947 Accession ideologists they have to keep accusing New Delhi for not being FAIR towards “THE KASHMIR
But still, though outside terms of reference ,Saghir Ahmed report has some thing for Omar Sahib to do at his level. The report has touched some local issues as well. Some time bound action on such issues would be an acid test for the seriousness of Omar Abdullah Government .Issues that have only local administrative implications can well be addressed by the State Government { GOI would be involved mostly from financial angles only}. The issues for State Government are (i) modifying the term of JK LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY{ii} political consensus on the issue of on issue of REPRESENTATION/RESERVATION FOR ST, WOMEN IN ASSEMBLY (iii) increasing the number of seats in the ASSEMBLY { bill for amending 29th amendment of J&K Constitution ( it was executed by NC Government itself during its last term and WG has not socially rejected this demand }, (iv ) the number of MINISTERS (v) elections to democratic bodies including Panchayats and Municipalities where ever due immediately (vi) strengthening the State Human Rights Commission & providing the additional staff to Commission (vii) quorum of the State Accountability Commission and staff , {viii} remedial measures for immediate implementation of dismissals from service of defaulting public servants as recommended by Accountability Commission, {ix} check on CULPRITS TAKING REFUSE UNDER TECHNICALITIES / STAYS ON the orders of SAC { vacation of stays on the recommendations made by SAC for dismissal of some officers (x) RTI is well with in the scope of State Government (X) return of Kashmiri migrants/ the relief / rehabilitation packages/facilitating admission of children of returning migrants in educational institutions in Kashmir Valley, {xi} reviving the Large industrial units like ITI/HMT in Kashmir Valley and giving employment to migrants, {xii} registration and payment of relief to migrants from militancy affected areas of Jammu Region as recommended by the WG ( rather they should also be given some compensation for the denial of timely relief so far ) , (xiii} implementing the Wadhwa Committee Report as far as possible { no doubt WG has rushed through this issue }, { ivx} providing a limited number of seats to refugees from West Pakistan in technical institutions ,{xv} State government may provide 2 percent jobs to West Pak refuges like 2 % of jobs in Central Government offices located in J&K recommended by WG,(xvi) WG report overlooking POK DPs indicates that the WG has not seriously handled even the issues kept pending by GOI for last 60 years,(xvii } border migrants displaced as a result of conflict at international border/LOC/ Kargil conflict.
(xviii) WG report NEARLY acknowledges THAT alleged under representation in Legislature to Jammu Region can not be rectified through a fresh Delimitation .. What prevented the WG to make recommendation to State Government for moving a bill to amend the restriction imposed through 29th Constitutional Amendment ? This way the Working Group report has in a way endorsed the discrimination to continue beyond 2031.Any how Omar Abdullah Government does not need any permission from GOI to move a bill in assembly in this regard. This condition had been imposed during the tenure of NC government that had overwhelming mandate in 1996. Let Omar Abdullah now apply the correction.. By not addressing this issue seriously the WG report has given unfair treatment to the backward and remote area people of J&K ( Doda, Kishtwar, Ramban, Bhaderwah, Poonch, Rajouri, Kathua, Udhampur , Kupwara belts. Now since awreness levels have grown it is hoped that any new Delimitation Commission would fairly do delimitations in line with the JK Representation of the People Act 1957.
{xix} Although the WG report has recommended continuation of Legislative Council, let the NC lead Government initiate an amendment to Constitution for abolishing the LC since mostly the nomination of candidates for election to LC are not made in line with the objectives behind creation of Legislative Council { interests of individuals are only taken care by while nominating candidates }, {xx} setting up of a State Backward Classes Commission, {xxi} reservation in services / education by State Government to the residents of areas adjoining international border, {xxii} setting up of a Dogri TV Channel on the lines of Kashir Channel, {xxiii} upgradation of NIT Srinagar and GECT Jammu to the level of IIT, {xxiv} establishing an IIM in the State and a separate university for Ladakh region.
Such initiative actions would surely do some thing good to those who have faced neglect but still have not raised separatist like questions / demands. It could also be inferred that WG is appears not satisfied with the contents of NC’s greater autonomy in total since it has talked of elevation of Judges to the Supreme Court of India both from Jammu and Srinagar ( Kashmir ). Similarly as regards ARMED FORCES SPECIAL POWERS ACT the Working Group has recommended that a group of Central Government and the State Government officers and people’s representatives may be constituted to review the application of the
(*Daya Sagar is a senior coloumnist on Jammu &Kashmir Affairs, dayasagr45 @yahoo.com ) Act.
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