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CM on autonomy issue
J&K leaders also to blame
From Ehsan Fazili
Tribune News Service

SRINAGAR, June 24 — Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah here today held some “Kashmiri leaders responsible” for straining the state’s ties with New Delhi and the erosion of Article 370.

Intervening during discussions on the State Autonomy Committee (SAC) report in the Assembly on the fourth day today he held that autonomy was a question of “honour of Kashmiris”. He said several leaders of Kashmir had from time to time during the past five decades “misled” the leadership in Delhi. A stage was even reached when Article 370 itself would have been “no more but was saved by the shifting of Governor” he said in a reference to former Governor Jagmohan.

The Chief Minister said he had conveyed to various leaders in New Delhi in clear terms that autonomy would not weaken the country. In another reference to his unscheduled visit to New Delhi during which he met the Prime Minister and several other Union leaders on Thursday he said. “This is the difference between India and Pakistan.... there (Pakistan) the former Prime Minister is behind bars and here we can discuss autonomy “arraamsey”.

He intervened twice to soften speeches made by his ministerial colleague and younger brother, Dr Mustafa Kamal and another senior minister, Ali Mohammad Sagar. The two ministers in their speeches, raised several points against the central government security forces fighting militancy in Kashmir. Dr Mustafa Kamal in his address said that there were indications that the Centre had a positive approach towards Autonomy, but criticised successive governments at the Centre for not allowing democracy to grow in Jammu and Kashmir, which led to the present crisis.

Dr Kamal said the confidence of the people of Jammu and Kashmir in the Centre had been shattered. “On one hand they talk of support to autonomy and on the other hand there are indications with regard to trifurcation of the state”, Dr Mustafa Kamal said.

He pooh poohed the remarks made by the opposition Congress and BJP members in the House that the National Conference was a valley-based party and said it had adequate representation in all three regions or the state.

Replying to Dr Kamal’s allegation against the security forces the CM said it was wrong to paint all security forces operating in the state in red as all of them were not involved in atrocities and excesses against innocent people.

Narrating an incident in which a task force officer had misbehaved with an innocent person and that he had ordered his suspension and dismissal, he said it was the states own officer who was responsible.

Dr Abdullah quoted former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi having told him in 1990 that “sab kuch lay jao lekin hamare saath raho” (take all things but remain with us) referring to the situation in the state in 1990.

Meanwhile, there were heated exchanges of arguments between the NC members and the MLAs from BJP and Congress parties. Members of the ruling National Conference blamed Delhi for the present turmoil in Kashmir for its “wrong policies” even as Kashmiris “acceded to India by choice” over five decades ago.

Moulvi Iftikhar Hussain Ansari, Congress, who enjoyed a ministerial berth in the Farooq Abdullah’s Cabinet for nearly three years, in his address blamed the Congress and BJP for the present turmoil. He blamed the Congress for toppling Farooq Abdullah’s government and added that the Central leadership had from time to time driving a wedges between Kashmiri rulers and the Centre. He blamed the Centre for “introducing the Jamaat-e-Islami” and now “creating the Hurriyat Conference”. 

“Delhi waalon nay hamesha dhoka kiya hai”, Moulvi Iftikhar Hussain Ansari said, asking to who had given the Hurriyat Conference the right to represent Kashmir. He said this while referring to the Centre’s offer of talks to the Hurriyat Conference. He said that the people of Jammu and Kashmir under Sheikh Abdullah’s leadership had acceded to India due to its commitment to secularism and socialism. 

“But, Muslims are being branded as agents of Pakistan and ISI and other agencies”, he remarked. “We do not want to dissociate from India. But it is the responsibility of your (BJP, Congress) parties .... Autonomy is no secession”, he quipped.

In a fiery 30-minute speech before the House was adjourned till Monday, Works Minister, Ali Mohammad Sagar blamed Delhi for the present turmoil in Kashmir. Had the leaders of both India and Pakistan taken responsible steps, the situation would not have been akin to war in the region, he said. He added that all those who opposed the National Conference founder, Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah were awarded by the central leadership. He referred to the accommodation of two senior Kashmir leaders Mohammad Shafi Qureshi and Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, being given berth in the Union government at different times.

Taking a dig at the BJP and Congress members, the minister held that these parties encouraged Hurriyat leaders. Which was why the APHC leaders were changing their statement from time to time. He hailed the decision of National Conference president and the Chief Minister of joining hands with Moulvi Mohammad Farooq to end the decades long “Sher bakra” feud in Kashmir in the 1980’s. Sagar said his party had the support of all the three regions of the state and got 16 seats out of over 30 in the Jammu region, three out of four in the Ladakh region and 44 out of 46 in Kashmir valley. He added that this was a clear mandate for autonomy, which had been the main plank of the NC election campaign in 1996. It was the only solution to the current problems in the state and cross border terrorism, he said.

Two other ministers, Mian Altaf Ahmad, and the Minister of State for Home, Mr Mushtaq Ahmad Lone dwelt in detail on the plight of the people in Jammu and Kashmir of different religious and social communities. Mian Altaf Ahmad, a prominent Gujjar leader said the NC leadership had joined the government in Delhi to make Kashmir a part of India which was the choice of the people of the state. He hailed the statement of the Minister for Information and Tourism, Ajatshatru Singh, son of the first Sadr-e-Riyasat, Dr Karan Singh and the grandson of Maharaja Hari Singh, who had signed the instrument of accession, that Maharaja wanted an independent Kashmir. It was because of the guerrilla raid by Pakistan that the Maharaja had to sign the Instrument of Accession, he said.

The Minister of State for Home, Mr Mushtaq Ahmad Lone said that in accordance with a ruling of the Supreme Court Article 370 was a “permanent feature of the Indian Constitution and irrevocable”. He said autonomy was “only devolution of power and did not amount to disintegration of the country.