M A I N N E W S
Restore autonomy to J&K, says panel
Jupinderjit Singh
Tribune News Service
* Justice Saghir Ahmed submits report on Centre-state relations
* Rejects UT status for Ladakh
* Says no discrimination with Jammu
Jammu, December 23
At a time when demands for separate states were raking up much controversy in the country, the Justice Saghir Ahmed Working Group on Centre-State Relationship has recommended “restoration of autonomy to the extent possible” in the light of the Kashmir Accord reached between late Indira Gandhi and late Sheikh Abdullah.
“It is for the people of Jammu and Kashmir to decide for how long to continue with Article 370 in its present form and when to make it permanent or abrogate it. The matter being 60-year-old, should be settled once for all,” it says as its first recommendation.
On the controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act, the report recommends that the Act may be withdrawn from some parts of the state. “A group of Central and state government officers and peoples representatives may be constituted which will review the application of the Act to various parts of the state to explore the possibility whether the Act can be withdrawn from any part of the state.”
On the powers and position of the Governor, it says the question of appointment of the Governor and dismissal of the popular government by the Governor may be considered and resolved.
The report was submitted to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah this evening. The state government will send it to the Prime Minister after deliberations.
The report broadly accepts many demands and stand of the National Conference. It doesn’t uphold the self-rule demand of the Mufti Mohd Sayeed-led People’s Democratic Party (PDP). The report says the PDP explained the oral concept of self-rule with no document presented on record.
The group was formed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh two years ago after several round-table conferences on solving the Kashmir Issue.
The report has rejected the demand of Union Territory status for Ladakh. The functioning of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council has been very successful and it may continue its commendable work, it says. It, however, recommends a separate university and better financial allocations for Ladakh.
On the issue of discrimination against Jammu and other regions, the report rejects the demand of increasing seats of the legislative assembly saying the Constitutional provisions do not allow delimitation till 2026. The report says it did not find any substance in the allegation of discrimination against the Jammu region. It, however, recommends that a Dogri channel may be set up on the lines of Kashir channel of the Doordarshan.
For improvement in technical education, the NIT at Srinagar and Government Engineering College at Jammu be upgraded to the IIT level, it has recommended. Similarly the Central Government may also establish an IIM in the state, the report says.
The working group headed by Justice S Saghir Ahmad, former Chief Justice of the J&K High Court, ex-Chief Justice of the Andhra Pradesh High Court and former Judge of the Supreme Court of India submitted its recommendations to the Chief Minister through its Secretary Ajit Kumar, in presence of Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ali Mohammad Sagar and the Political Adviser to Chief Minister Devender Singh Rana.
1 comment:
Fifth Working Group headed by Rtd Justice Saghir Ahmed with sensitive had on agenda NC’s autonomy, self rule, article 370, issues of refugees and problems of backward areas etc.The WG headed by Justice Saghir Ahmed had last met on September 3, 2007 but could not come up with any report till Dec 2009. In a way this was the only working group that needed priority action keeping in view the J&K affairs as they had shaped after 1990 .This working group had to particularly address to relationship between the Government of J& K and the Government at Delhi ( Union Government ).Kashmiri over ground separatists did not participate in any of the working group meeting as well as the RTC. But still great expectations were there from this Working Group as regards the demands of political parties and individuals who wanted some considerations / resettlements as regards Center State relations (duly holding firmly to the 1947 accession of J & K with Indian dominion ). But what ever may be the quality of the report , what ever may be reaction of different groups to presentation of the report, one thing is sure that the presentation of the report and reactions to report have brought in some political benefits to goodwill of NC amongst some segments in Kashmir. Valley .Signals have gone that NC has succeeded in securing recommendations in favour of its Greater Autonomy. Where as the contents do not appear to be like that. No any clear recommendations have been made even regarding Autonomy Resolution of JK Assembly / National Conference as well as PDP’s Self Rule. It appears that the “working group” was caught in confusions and a way has been found to just get rid of the noose. So what to talk of successfully working for tackling the over ground separatists , the report would not even pull National Conference out of the sludge. The political WAR of words would continue between NC and PDP. The contents of the Justice Saghir Ahmed report and the manner in which report has been submitted would not do any thing good to settle the confusions . Rather it could be feared that confusions may grow further. The report would not even settle PDP flares , what to talk of separatist flares.
How funny as per the report no concept paper was provided by JK PDP to Justice Saghi Ahmed on its Self Rule. The report further recommends that PDP proposal requires to be considered by the Central Government if and when approached with documents containing specific proposals of the “Self Rule”. This style of report also confirms that the chapters on 5th Working Group references have been forcedly closed. (*Daya Sagar, a senior coloumnist on Jammu &Kashmir Affairs, dayasagr45 @yahoo.com )
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