Except Dr Farooq Abdullah no Kashmiri leader has a clear Agenda to present
Daya Sagar Sharma
October 06, 2007
The affairs that were earlier known as J& K affairs later came to be recognised as Kashmir problem. And after 2002 some people so easily name it as a Kashmir dispute. The news stories in print media and electronic media of India too knowingly and unknowingly use the term Kashmir Dispute. Trilateral talks and like processes are suggested for solving this “dispute”. India had earlier never called Kashmir an issue of dispute with Pakistan, though Pakistan called it. Now it does not that much irritate Indian leaders when some one refers Kashmir affairs as Kashmir dispute. Those who openly challenge the accession of J&K with India are called separatist leaders. Some out of them are labeled as hardliners and some as soft liners. They are no different than those who talk with gun and challenge the Government at New Delhi. Sayeed Ali Shah Geelani can raise anti India slogans, can sponsor those who hoist anti India flags, can refuse to honour national ( Indian ) symbols and can refuse to sit for discussions where Dr. Farooq Abdullah or Ghulam Nabi or Ashok Khajuria may sit with Man Mohan Singh to discuss the miseries and problems of people of J&K.
J&K affairs have been made an international public affair by the non serious Indian leaders. Had it not been so the conferences to discuss solution to J&K affairs would not have been so frequently conducted in cities out side India and so called separatist leaders would not have been allowed to attend these meetings. More fire to the fuel is added by the fact that even professors from Jammu University, Kashmir University and leaders from political parties like Panther Party / Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP ) are found eager to receive invitations to attend such conferences. Such things are sure make the issues like Kashmir as extra territorial issue.
Government of India has to now take the affairs seriously. Some at New Delhi feel that India has 30 States and Union terrritories with population of over 110 crores and therefore only thing that matters from election point of view is territory of J&K. The agony and misery tales of the people of J&K do not reach those in far east or far south and hence it does not matter that much politically. Hence people of J&K need to make the local leadership work honestly and stop exploiting their innocence and sentiments.
Leaders like Dr Farooq Abdullah, S.A.S. Geelani, Yasin Malik, Shabir Shah, Moulvi Farooq, Mufti Sayeed, Dr Karan Singh and Rishi Kumar Kaushal have at occasions suggested some half solutions to J&K affairs ( turmoil) or have claimed that they could suggest some solution at an appropriate time. Leaders like Ghulam Nabi Azad are new in the trade and hence I have not listed him here. There are also some other front line senior leaders from Jammu Province but since the voices regarding Kashmir problem have not been raised by leaders from Jammu Province , they have not been named regarding this issue.
Mr. Sayeed Ali Shah Geelani ( Samaat e Islami ) and Yasin Malik ( JKLF) have made their formulae some what clear. Moulvi Farooq is in confusion . Those who have some solution but would disclose at the appropriate time have at least inferred indirectly that Kashmir is a Dispute and the dispute has some connection with the events of August 1947. Mufti Mohd Sayeed ( PDP ) Ex Chief Minister J&K has come in the trade only after he left Indian National Congress Party. Before that Mufti never talked of any thing like Kashmir Prohlem or requirements like Self Rule.
It is only the Farooq Abdullah.s National Conference that has some clarity regarding the J&K affairs. Sheikh Mohd Abdullah had second time after 1947 taken to power seat with the support of Congress in 1975. He had no other reservations regarding Kashmir affairs than the Center State relations. As regards the 1947 Accession of J&K with Dominion of India he had expressed total solidarity. Dr, Farooq Abdullah who inherited the minds and movements of Sheikh Mohd Abdullah has more than any other Indian declared that J&K is India. He has even gone to the extent of suggesting that that those who do not like staying in India would be allowed to go to the other side of Indian borders. As per Dr. Farooq the 1947 October accession of Princely state of Maharaja Hari Singh has been lawful and total like any other princely state of Greater India of British Empire. Only issue that National Conference and Dr. Farooq Abdullah suggest for settlement with New Delhi is the Center State relationship. National Conference is the largest political party of J&K. The demand has been named as Greater Autonomy and has been voted by J&K Assembly as well. It does have indirectly some relationship with the terms of the instrument of Accession, J&K Constitution and Article 370 of the Indian Constitution. Greater Autonomy has no relation with the issues pertaining to Indo Pak wars or Pakistani claims.
It is only Natioanal Conference that has presented the requirement in black and white. PDP’s Self Rule is still an imagination. But National Conference ;leadership has not been able to explain the Greater Autonomy to common masses in simple terms. More so it has no support for this issue from the common people of Jammu province. Rather it was due to such proposals of Narional Conference that it performed so badly during the 2002 elections to J&K Legislative Assembly. Dr Farooq Abdullah and his National Conference must try to explain Greater Autonomy and its benefits to the masses. People who oppose Greater Autonomy need be convinced to accept it voluntarily and in case National Conference in the process finds that some changes need be made , the same could be done. May be National Conference will have to hire the services of some experts to assist its leadership for this campaign ( more particularly in Jammu Province ). And ofcourse New Delhi should not have any problem in discussing and debating the Greater Autonomy Resolution as passed by J&K legislature in the year 2000. Surely the Parliament of India neither rejecting the Resolution nor suggesting modification has created doubts in the minds of common people of J&K. The anti India forces could use even such confusions against India It can make the ground situations difficult for dare devil Indians like Dr. farooq Abdullah.
The Greater Autonomy as is being talked about in reference to J&K has to be addressed seriously. There is no scope to address the issue before outsiders when it has to be within the Constitution of India. The Greater Autonomy that the J&K leadership (it is mostly from Kashmir Valley and the party leaders from Jammu Region have to simply raise hands ) is talking about is surely not the same Autonomy ( internal) that has been suggested by some commissions / demanded by some in general for the States/ Provinces of Union of India. The issue must be understood neatly and nearly.
National Conference need to reason its benefits and objectives to those who oppose it or are to those also who are not that much for or against the Greater Autonomy .
The Indian Cabinet had first out rightly rejected the State Autonomy Committee (SAC ) report. It was on 15 July 2002 that Dr. Farooq Abdullah had said that the then GOI had agreed to retain a senior leader for discussing the SAC Resolution of 2000 with the State Government / it’s representative. Then Home Minister Mr. L.K.Advani announced on the floor of Lok Sabha on 16th July 2002 that former law minister Arun Jaitley will be Center’s point man to discuss with JK Government and political parties the issue of devolution of more powers to State Mr. Advani had said that J&K was a special State and the Government has no objection to giving it more powers. A notification was issued on 22 July 02 on Jaitley’s appointment as representative of Centre and first meeting ( 25 July 02) Jaitley had with the representative of J&K Government Shri Ghulam Mohi-ud-Din Shah had left the common man guessing of the terms of reference. And the next meeting with Jaitley and Shah was scheduled for 9th August 2002. It almost gave the process a sure 1953 face lift . It was on 9th August that Sheikh Mohd Abdullah was arrested by the orders of then Sadar-e- Riyasat Yuvraj Karan Singh ji Bahadur allegedly for his having played some thing against the Dominion of India . Mr. N. N. Vohra later took over the job from from MR. Arun Jaitly in April 2003 . But the subject appears to be laid in cold store.
If not seriously and immediately taken up there appears no dead end to the miseries of people of J&K . Assembly Autonomy Resolution 2000 is the only issue that can be politically discussed with National Conference and other parties of J&K by GOI with in the Constitution of India. Otherwise the innocent minds will surely remain confused simply to benefit the selfish Politicians of J&K.
Even with the demands like Greater Autonomy the people of Jammu Province of J&K State as well as those of Ladakh Region of J&K State have turned critical about people of Kashmir Region. What to talk of other proposals from the separatists and people like Mufti Mohd Sayeed’s PDP who is being accused even by some as a person toeing the line of Pakistan president in the name of Self Rule.
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