Srinagar, Sep 20: At a meeting with the visiting parliamentary delegation to the state to assess the situation, the ruling National Conference on Monday reiterated its demand for restoration of autonomy to Jammu and Kashmir even as it urged government of India to start the dialogue with all shades of opinions both at the internal and external front to resolve Kashmir.The party however ruled out breaking ties with the Congress led UPA saying New Delhi had given enough indication for need to restore “some kind of autonomy.” to JK.Soon after the meeting of NC party delegation with the law makers at SKICC, senior National Conference leader, Abdul Rahim Rather who led the delegation, told media persons: “We made our cases seeking restoration of autonomy. Government of India should honor the instrument of accession it has entered into with Jammu and Kashmir. Our autonomy has been unconstitutionally eroded. It should be restored,” said Rather, who is also the Finance Minister in the JK government.The NC members, Rather said reminded the APD that Article 370 which forms the basis of JK’s accession with India was framed up by the constituent assembly and no one has the powers to erode it.“We told the delegation that as far as the autonomy is concerned the then government of India led by late Narshima Rao had made promises that sky is the limit, and in 1996 the government had promised not only autonomy but greater autonomy if NC joined the elections. We want promises should be kept,” Rather said.Asked whether the party would re-consider their alliance with the Congress if there was no forward movement on autonomy, Rather said no such decision would be taken. “There is no cause to worry. I don’t doubt the sincerity of the government of India. We are hopeful of a positive response. The Home minister said yesterday and even today that Jammu and Kashmir should be granted some kind of autonomy. There have been enough indication from center that it will consider autonomy for the state,” Rather said.Senior National Conference leader Dr Mehbooba Beg who was part of the delegation said they told APD that autonomy was not only the slogan of his party but it was widely accepted by the people of all the three regions of the state--Kashmir, Jammu and Ladakh--when the state legislature passed it unanimously.Though NC has been demanding restoration of the autonomy for a long time it had to face major disappointment when the proposal was out rightly rejected by the then BJP led
NDA government in 2000.Dr Beg said the delegation was told that there was a need to address the trust deficit among people which is only growing due to reluctance of New Delhi to implement its own decision taken from time to time vis-à-vis political and economical problem of the state.“It has already been too late and more delay is only growing to worsen the situation. There has to be wider and time bound interaction with the alienated sections to seek a solution to Kashmir problem,” Dr Beg told Greater Kashmir. On Dialogue:Rather said there was a need to start dialogue in a “systematic manner” both at the external front and internal front to solve Kashmir.“The (Kashmir) problem can’t be solved with dialogue. The process should be started with the nationalist as well as the separatists. If sincere efforts are put in the problem can be solved,” he said.   On AFSPA:Rather said they told the delegation that there was no need for continuation of AFSPA in Jammu and Kashmir. “It should be removed,” he said. Though the party has been seeking from the center for sometime now the removal of the Act from certain areas of the state or its dilution, there has been no decision yet from the government of India.Responding to a question on continuation of curfew today, Rather said the government could not have afford law and problem in the valley when the delegation was there.He said government had invited Geelani for talks and were hoping that he would join in the process to try and diffuse the crisis in the Valley. “He is a senior leader. But it was his decision not to meet the delegation,” Rather said, adding leader of opposition Mehbooba Mufti should have also joined her party delegation to meet the parliamentary group.

Lastupdate on : Mon, 20 Sep 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Mon, 20 Sep 2010 18:30:00 GMT
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