Cabinet rejects Kashmir autonomy resolution

Cabinet rejects Kashmir autonomy resolution
PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

NEW DELHI, JULY 4: The Union Cabinet on Tuesday rejected outright the autonomy resolution passed by the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly on June 26 seeking to end Centre's authority in certain areas.

"The resolution of the state assembly on the report of the state autonomy committee has not been accepted by the Union Cabinet," Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pramod Mahajan told reporters after a two-hour special meeting of the Cabinet adding there were no differences in the Cabinet.

Just ahead of the Cabinet meeting, state Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah met the Prime Minister but uncharacteristically he declined to meet waiting newsmen.

Abdullah had on Monday asserted that the issue of autonomy for his state "will not end" even if Parliament rejected the state assembly resolution.

The rejection of the autonomy demand assumes significance as the Centre had initially indicated that the resolution might be placed before Parliament for consideration which now looks unlikely.

The autonomy demand had drawn flak not only from the Opposition including Congress, but also from the constituents of the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) especially BJP which had of late come out sharply against the demand.

The resolution, which sought to end Centre's authority on subjects like Supreme Court and Election Commission, had however left defence, communications, external affairs and currency to be with the Centre.

Meanwhile, the J&K government today termed as "unfortunate" and "discourteous" rejection of the autonomy resolution and charged that pro-active agenda of the Vajpayee government in the state and pressures by RSS and VHP were responsible for this.

"I believe the rejection of resolution shows the real face of the Centre's pro-active policy towards Kashmir...This is no way to tackle the jehad (armed crusade) waged by Pakistan and `Jamaat-e-Islamia'," senior-most Minister in state cabinet P L Handoo told newsmen.

"This is the most discourteous way to consider a resolution passed by the state assembly," he said.

Asked whether RSS and VHP had a role to play in the Cabinet decision, Handoo said "obviously yes, it is the internal politics of BJP which has played a vital role in the cabinet decision."

He expressed surprise over the cabinet decision saying "we are unable to understand such a decision despite the fact that Home Minister L K Advani had gone on record saying the the resolution would be put before Parliament for discussion."

In a related development, Assam Chief Minister P K Mahanta has said there is nothing unconstitutional in holding debates on the demand for more autonomy to states even as APCC president Tarun Gogoi feared such demands would put the country's unity and integrity at stake.

In a press statement here, Mahanta said assemblies and Parliament were the appropritate fora to hold such debates as allowed by the Constitution which permitted a mix of unitary and federal governance.

In the last 50 years various demands regarding powers of the state and the Centre have been discussed and several changes in the law have been introduced, he pointed out.

As both the Centre and states were ruled by the same political party since Independence, the contentious issues relating to power sharing were not prominently discussed, Mahanta said.

``However in the last 20 years as complexion of governments at the Centre and states changed and several regional parties came to power in the states, the issues relating to power for the states have assumed significance'', he added.

Regional political parties emerged with the rise in local aspirations and the demand for more autonomy and power is a natural outcome of that development, Mahanta added.

However, state Congress chief Gogoi, referring to the autonomy demand in Jammu and Kashmir, told newsmen here that his party was for devolution of power to the people but not the type of autonomy demanded by Mahanta as "it would strengthen Pakistan's case and spell danger for insurgency-hit Assam.

Gogoi said the "demand of autonomy at the state level in all respects save defence, foreign affairs, currency and communication, which are to be retained by the Centre, would not only weaken the unity and integrity of the country but also not serve the interest of Assam's people."

The APCC chief said Mahanta made the observations with the sole motive to ``help cover up his misrule, corrupt practices in various departments, rigging elections, etc.''

``The authority of the Supreme Court, the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG), Election Commission, CBI, etc. will no longer be there and Mahanta would be completely free from national agencies if such an autonomy is ever granted'', he feared.