Self-rule idea not acceptable: PCC chief
M.L. Kak

Jammu, January 28
Amidst rising political heat in Jammu and Kashmir over the self-rule idea mooted by Pakistan President, Gen Pervez Musharraf the Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) chief, Peerzada Mohammed Sayed, yesterday rejected the idea saying “it is unacceptable to us.”

He told mediamen in Jammu that “before floating any idea on the settlement of the Kashmir issue General Musharraf should establish self-rule in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.”

Peerzada Sayed said: “In Jammu and Kashmir self-rule already exists.We have a government elected by the people. It is not the case in occupied Kashmir where democracy has not been allowed to have its roots.”

The PCC President did not see eye to eye with the Congress partner, the PDP, which wanted General Musharraf’s self-rule idea to be discussed. Asked to comment on the PDP chief, Ms Mehbooba Mufti’s recent statement that the self-rule idea “can not be brushed aside and needed to be discussed” the Congress president said “Ms Mehbooba should not have said so.”

Mehbooba’s remarks on self-rule evoked sharp reaction in the political circles in the Jammu region though she had not endorsed it with her eyes shut. The BJP, the Jammu Mukti Morcha, and the RSS are already opposed to the self-rule idea and demilitarisation. And now the state unit of the Congress, too, has opposed it.

Compared to their stand, the Opposition National Conference led by Mr Omar Abdullah, has favoured restoration of greater autonomy as it was an ideal solution to the Kashmir issue.

Since Mehbooba’s statement on self-rule had caused some embarrassment to the state unit of the Congress, Peerzada Mohammed Sayed took the opportunity to explain his party’s stand on the issue by rejecting the idea. He, however, stated that the Congress was for a sustained dialogue on the Kashmir issue.

Even though claiming that the healing touch policy of the government was the commitment of the Congress he said: “We cannot sit silent if people and security forces are attacked by militants.” He explained that it was in this context that the Chief Minister, Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad, had stated that the government would pursue the policy of bullet for bullet.

He said the Congress wanted separatists and militants to shun violence and join the peace and dialogue process.

In reply to a question the PCC chief denied that the Congress had gone closer to the National Conference when compared to its relations with its partner, the PDP. He said: “Neither is there any closeness nor any chasm. In politics secular parties move on the same wavelength.”

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