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| UPA’s unwarranted decision to appoint interlocutors | | | BALBIR RAM | 10/18/2010 11:05:47 PM |
| Appointment of three non-political interlocutors by the Congress-led UPA at the centre for holding talks with all shades of opinion in Jammu and Kashmir, including the separatists, is a decision which is totally unwarranted. There seems no need or logic behind such a decision, which might have been taken under some compulsions.
The opposition to centre’s this decision has more than one reasons and that too authentic and well -founded.
It may be recalled that during last three months, when incidents of stone pelting commenced in few areas of Kashmir, the Union government convened "All Party Meet" at Srinagar, chaired by none other than the Prime Minister himself. All the political parties, various trade & business organisations, separatists and other social organisations were invitees to this meet.
Again after few days, an All Party Meeting was called at New Delhi, which once again was chaired by the Prime Minister. This meeting was attended by leaders of political parties. Once again after few days, the centre deputed an "All Party Delegation’ headed by Union Home Minister Mr. P. Chidambaram and comprising of few of his cabinet colleagues, Leaders of Opposition in both the Houses of Parliament besides about three dozen Mambers of Parliament from different political parties.This delegation visited Srinagar and Jammu. At both these capital cities, representatives of political, social and business organisations put forth their viewpoints over the present turmoil in valley as also their grievances.
Now, doesn’t it seem amazing, rather unwarranted to appoint three interlocutors for the same purpose when meetings at the highest levels have been convened and viewpoints of the people taken into notice. Should it be assumed that the earlier meetings chaired by the Prime Minister and the Union Home Minister were just futile exercises ? Does it mean that none in the whole of Union government, including the Prime Minister and the Home Minister, was wise enough to understand what was happening in Jammu and Kashmir ; who was responsible for creating disturbances in the state; what were the grievances of the people of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh; what ways and means were suggested for finding a solution to the crisis ? Doesn’t appointment of interlocutors amount to the admission that Prime Minister and Home Minister are not capable of meeting the challenges posed by the separatists and stone-pelters and thus lower the dignity of the Prime Minister and his cabinet ?
The reason why there could not be a sustainable peace and normalcy in the state may be that the Jammu and Kashmir has been used as an "Experimenting Laboratory" during all these years of Pakiastan-sponsored militancy. Every now and then some new experiments were conducted, which did not yield positive results. It is learnt that till date successive governments at the centre have appointed a number of interlocutors and constituted committees, all of them proving futile.
One more reason to oppose the appointment of interlocutors is as to "what new or useful outcome the union government expects to come out through them" ? What the National Conference, the PDP, BJP, the Congress, the separatists, the business, student & trade organisations, Kashmiri Hindu migrants, refugees have been demanding, is known to all and what is required by the Central government is to balance the various view points and demands keeping in view the national interests and constitutional obligation as also the constitutionality of the proposed response.
While separatists, who have a very thin support of the people in just few localities of Kashmir, are considering as the sole decision makers. None of the separatist leaders have any representative credential. They have been bycotting every election and meeting. The way they behave, address the masses and provoke them to indulge in anti-national activities prove that the government treats them as VVIPs, instead of booking them under seditious acts. How unfortunate it is that these separatists are provided categorised security at the cost of the Indian exchequer. They always put conditions for participating in any meeting or talks and the government finds it helpless. Azadi/ separation from India is their main issue.
The NC is asking for autonomy, the PDP demands self rule and withdrawal of security forces. The BJP and such other political parties having nationalist outlook have all along raised the issue of discrimination with Jammu and Ladakh, political empowerment of Jammu by holding fair delimitation, abrogation of Article 370, dignified return of Kashmiri Hindu maigrants, grant of citizenship rights to refugees from West Pakistan, implementation of the 1994 Unanimous Resolution of Indian Parliament to get vacated Indian territory illegally occupied by Pakistan and non-dilution of Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA). The role of the Congress in Jammu and Kashmir has not been very encouraging. It is alleged that whatever the state is facing today is the result of the weak-kneed and appeasement policy of the Congress. Instead of pleading the national cause effectively in the state, it has always compromised for the sake of power.
Now, when these interlocutors will meet people from all shades of opinion, the same representatives will meet them, same issues will be raised, same demands will be put forward and same separatists will bycott them. When it is clear that old issues and demands are going to be taken up, what is the need for these apointments ?
If the Union government is really serious towards satisfying all the three regions of the state and want respect for the Indian Constitution and tricolour in Kashmir, it should collect all such representations, memorandums and other documents submitted from time to time in the past to various committees and interlocutors, go through them seriously and then announce any such package or concession which the Constitution allows. A few measures which, if, are taken, the inspirations of the three regions can be meted out to great extent and the resentment among masses be checked. Some of such measures can be:
Not to treat seapatists as VVIPs, withdraw their security covers.
Asking the separatists to prove their representative credentials.
Booking all such elements who indulge in seditious activities.
Outrightly rejection of demands like Self-rule and Autonomy.
Grant of Union Territory Status to Ladakh and citizenship rights to refugees.
Abrogation of Article 370.
Early delimitation of assembly constituencies.
Setting up of big industries in all the three regions for job opportunities.
Release of central funds for Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh separately
Taking immediate and effective steps to implement Unanimous resolution of Parliament
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