Jammu, July 30
On the suggestion of the Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah, the Central Government is said to be seriously thinking on setting up a high-level committee for a fresh discussion with state leaders on the demand for restoration of greater autonomy to Jammu and Kashmir.
Reliable reports said the Chief Minister and his son, Mr Omar Abdullah, Union Minister of State for External Affairs, had conveyed in clear terms to the central leaders that the restoration of the pre-1953 constitutional status could check the pro-‘Azadi’ and pro-Pakistan forces in the state.
The reports said the Centre had rejected the Autonomy Committee report nearly two years ago on the plea that it could consider devolution of more powers to states, including Jammu and Kashmir, but not “reverse” the arms of the clock”.
What seems to have motivated the Union Government to review the demand for greater autonomy to Jammu and Kashmir is the failure of the government to stabilise the security situation despite the unilateral ceasefire announced by chief commander of operations of the Hizbul Mujahideen Abdul Majid Dar and the Centre’s announcement of non-initiation of combat operations against the militants.
The Hizb ceasefire lasted a week in July last and the three-month ceasefire declared by the Government of India in November last had no salutary impact on the ground realities as far as the activities of the militants were concerned.
In between two experiments were carried out. One was in the shape of
talks with the Hurriyat Conference leaders. An indication was given that some Hurriyat leaders would be given permission to visit Pakistan. Later, the move was dropped and Mr K.C. Pant sent as the government’s chief negotiator to the state for interaction with those who mattered. The Pant mission did not cause ripples in the river Jhelum.
While the experiment was on, the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, embarked on a major exercise, inviting the Pakistan President, Gen Pervez Musharraf, to India for talks. The Agra summit also did not yield any positive result.
Having realised that the previous experiments had proved futile, the Government of India is said to be ready to review afresh the demand for greater autonomy in the light of the claim by the Chief Minister that it could “marginalise” pro-Pakistan forces.
However, the BJP-led NDA government is not in favour of seeing the state return to the pre-1953 constitutional position in which external affairs, defence and communication alone are central subjects and the rest is with the state. Under this arrangement, the Chief Election Commission, the Supreme Court and the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India had no jurisdiction in Jammu and Kashmir. Also, the state had Sadr-i-Riyasat elected by the state legislature instead of a Governor and Prime Minister in place of Chief Minister.
The Centre would like to discuss some peripheral changes in the constitutional arrangement so that cosmetic changes are accepted without altering the basic structure of the Constitution.
Whatever may be the ultimate demand of the National Conference, separatists have made it clear that greater autonomy was “never our goal”. The Hurriyat Conference Chairman, Prof Abdul Gani Bhat, besides several other separatist leaders and rebel outfits have already announced that “our struggle has never been for the restoration of greater autonomy.”
Several political leaders and academicians interviewed had different views on the issue. A majority of them said the restoration of greater autonomy would not restore peace unless the demand had the backing of Pakistan. They said the strings of militancy were in the hands of Islamabad and it up to the Pakistani establishment whether to buy peace with India after greater autonomy was restored to Jammu and Kashmir. As the situation exists in Kashmir and in Pakistan, Islamabad is not likely to bless the proposal.
However, others were of the opinion that some separatists and rebel groups could lend their support to the demand only on the assumption that it would be a half battle won. A senior government officer said “a feeling would grow that if 10 years’ struggle has given greater autonomy, another phase of the struggle could give azadi.”
But there are others who are of the view that there is no harm in experimenting with the restoration of a diluted form of pre-1953 position.
Sources close to senior National Conference leaders disclosed that the ruling party had carried out a secret survey in the state which had revealed that a majority of peace-loving people were for greater autonomy.
Even the Chief Minister, Dr Abdullah, who spent five weeks abroad, had received positive support from various circles, including the Indian and Pakistanis settled in the UK and other European countries. The debate on the issue has been revived and the National Conference plans to rake this matter with a bigger force in view of the Assembly elections which are due next year.
