[1]Chief minister Omar Abdullah asserted on Wednesday that Jammu and Kashmir has not merged with India but only acceded to it under certain conditions and under an agreement.
“The accession of Jammu and Kashmir to India has taken place but the state has not merged with the country. Hence, it can’t be placed at par with Hyderabad or Junagarh,” he said while replying to the debate on the present law and order scenario in the Valley in the state Assembly here. The CM reiterated that the accession of Jammu and Kashmir to India occurred under an agreement. “We have not broken that agreement nor have we taken it back, but you have gradually demolished it and people are aggrieved and angry for this act if yours.” Mr Abdullah added, “We both were required to uphold and respect the agreement. Many say that much water has flown down the Jhelum since then. We also agree, but it is still a fact that Jammu and Kashmir’s accession to India is under an agreement and it is not a merger.”
He referred to the special provision made in the Constitution of India and said, “When we talk of autonomy we do talk of granting it under the Indian Constitution... we are not breaking Jammu and Kashmir from the rest of the country but demanding a solution under the Constitution of India.”
The CM said the Indira-Sheikh and Rajiv-Farooq accords, and the National Conference’s autonomy resolution passed by the state Assembly, are all political discourses under the Constitution to address Kashmir issue. “People say, if this is not carried forward where then does lie seriousness towards this issue. This is the thinking of my party, my allies in the government have not stamped this ideology. They have their own thinking about the issue,” he said.
Mr Abdullah said the Union home minister had rightly stated in Parliament that the accession of Jammu and Kashmir had been in unique circumstances and that the settlement of the issue requires unique action. He said the Kashmir issue, and the unrest in Kashmir, is not an issue of governance, as being propagated and circulated by certain quarters. “Those who think it an issue of good governance, they are living in a world of ignorance. Had it been any such issue then the entire state, including Jammu, Ladakh, Kargil and the rural areas of Kashmir, would have been in turmoil during the last three months. Don’t you listen or read the slogans of ‘Quit Kashmir’ and ‘Go India Go’ in the present law and order situation in the Valley? My being in the seat of chief minister has nothing to do with the agitation. It is regarding the political issue which has been lingering for a long time and which has been kept bleeding by 20 years of militancy,” he said. “If the Kashmir issue is settled by my leaving the chair, I will take no time to get down from power. I promise I will leave even politics if the resolution lies in it,” he asserted.
Mr Abdullah said neither he nor his government were acting as New Delhi’s “puppets” and added, “There is no remote control”.
Underscoring the importance of external and internal dialogue to address the political issues of Jammu and Kashmir politically, the CM said while there is an urgent need for internal dialogue between the Centre and the state, the dialogue with Pakistan on the Kashmir issue is a must to settle issues that have lingered for a long time and have had an adverse effect on peace and tranquillity in the state.
He reiterated that only internal dialogue with separatists and other shades of opinion is not sufficient unless a sustained dialogue is started with the neighbouring country. “It is the issue between the two countries in which the people of Jammu and Kashmir are being crushed,” he said, adding that this issue cannot be resolved by the development process or by providing employment.
He said successive governments in New Delhi have accepted that all outstanding issues, including that of Jammu and Kashmir, will be discussed. “The Agra, Lahore, Delhi and other Indo-Pak summits were steps in this direction. If anybody thinks the issue will be settled by talking to separatists alone, he is in a make-believe world,” he said, insisting that both external and internal dialogues are imperative to find a permanent solution.
“We have given the proposal of autonomy, which is not only Kashmir-centric but covers Jammu, Leh and Kargil areas equally. We also seek regional autonomy for all these areas, including the upper parts of Jammu division like Poonch, Rajouri and Doda, so that nobody raises fingers against other areas for usurping its rights in economic development. We want a resolution of the Kashmir issue as would be acceptable to both the three regions of Jammu and Kashmir and also to the neighbouring country,” he said.
Stressing on placing the Kashmir issue on the front-burner, the CM said it has been observed that when there is peace and tranquillity in the state, the need to address political issues is placed on the backburner. “For God’s sake, don’t repeat this kind of attitude at this juncture and don’t wait for a deterioration of the law and order situation again. Start the twin dialogue tracks and culminate these into a befitting result for the larger interests of the people and peace in the area. Keep the dialogues on till an amicable solution is worked out.”
Taking a dig at the BJP’s approach to the present crisis, the CM said, “It is easy to say that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India and it sounds nice to the ears, but if there is no doubt in your minds and hearts on this account, why are you time and again shouting this slogan at the top your voices? Why is there any need of saying this again and again? Why is the same slogan not being raised for Tamil Naidu or any other state? On one hand you are granting special status to Jammu and Kashmir, on the other you voice [your demand] for removing it from the Constitution. You have doubt in your hearts,” he said, raising his hand towards the BJP members.
Chief minister Omar Abdullah warned of the consequences of not addressing the political issue of the state politically, saying, “Don’t blame me for future consequences on this count. Either we have to work sincerely to stop this unrest and bloodshed once and for all, or we will be contributing to the unabated disturbances and killings,” he said.
“When I talk about the softening of AFSPA, or removing it from certain parts of the state where there is peace and no militancy, it is being connected with the Army and dubbed as talk against the Army. How is it so?,” he asked, adding, “I have never talked against the Army or any other force. I am only talking about the excesses committed against common people and this is nothing but advocating implementation of the rule of law. We are against doers of injustice and violators of the law, whosoever he may be. The country’s Constitution gives the right to every citizen to seek justice. As such, wherever we feel any excess has been committed by any force, we bring the doers of it to book. By removing AFSPA we mean removing it from the areas where there is no role of the Army and no Army personnel are deployed there.”
The CM said the state government has initiated an FIR against five police officials in Anantnag for their involvement in the killing of three local youth, allegedly without any reason or provocation, and that they would be punished by due course of law. “Similarly, we have initiated action against those involved in use of excessive force and accused of human rights violations in the past and will continue to give justice to the people in future. It is my duty to ensure justice to all, and, till I sit in this chair, I will do so,” he said.
On the eight-point J&K package announced by the Centre, the CM said the initiative is to build confidence. “There are certain responsibilities on the state to accomplish while government of India has to render certain responsibilities under the eight-point package. We have removed 15 bunkers out of the 16 identified for the purpose. Similarly, 50 students have been released and the decision about those detained under the PSA is being reviewed today,” he said.
“The Union government has the responsibility of immediately constituting the group of interlocutors and starting a dialogue in the state. The group should not be of bureaucrats or retired officers, but comprise political persons having full knowledge of Jammu and Kashmir. Their minds should not be closed but the team should come with open minds and interact with the people in Kashmir, Jammu, Leh, Kargil etc,” he said.
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