New Delhi, March 10
Faced with an adamant
coalition partner, a defensive Congress today diluted its stand on the issue of
the Jammu and Kashmir Permanent Resident (Disqualification) Bill, which debars
Kashmiri women from inheriting property in the state if they marry
non-Kashmiris.
Having taken a firm position on the issue, an embarassed
Congress today maintained that the Bill appears to be discriminatory and since
it was rushed through in the Vidhan Sabha in six minutes without any discussion,
it ought to be refered to a select committee for a detailed scrutiny.
Three
days ago, the Congress president herself wrote to J&K Chief Minister Mufti
Mohammad Sayeed to express her anguish over the passage of the Bill as it
curtails the rights of women and asked him to refer the Bill to a select
committee.
The Congress party’s discomfort follows the refusal of its
coalition partner the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), to fall in line. Under
pressure from its opponent, the National Conference for betraying the Kashmiri
cause, the PDP maintains the Bill is not discriminatory and that the state of
Jammu and Kashmir enjoys special status under Article 370.
“There is some
misunderstanding about the Bill...there is a public perception that it is
discriminatory. It needs more discussion so that its contents are understood
across the country,” remarked AICC General Secretary Ambika Soni, adding that
the Congress is well aware of the historical background of the Bill as well as
the special provisions of Article 370.
The Bill is listed for passage in the
state legislative council tomorrow when the Congress will present a memorandum
to council chairman asking him to refer the Bill to a select committee, failing
which its five Congress legislators will vote against the Bill.
Ms Soni was,
however, quick to add that this would, in no way affect the Congress-PDP
relations. “This issue does not form part of the common minimum programme on the
basis of which the coalition came to power,” Ms. Soni explained, stating the two
partners could well “agree to disagree” on issues outside the CMP. She was,
however, hard pressed to explain why the Congress had voted for the Bill in the
first place.
Although the Congress is putting up a brave face, the issue is
agitating the party. Its leaders have been in touch with PDP leader Mehbooba
Mufti who, it is learnt, has explained that the provisions of the Bill had been
misunderstood.
