NC not to compromise on autonomy resolution

NC not to compromise on autonomy resolution
PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

SRINAGAR, JULY 15: The ruling National Conference in Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday asserted it would not compromise on the issue of autonomy and said a decision on its continuance in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) Government at the Centre would be taken after Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah's talks with Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee on Monday.

"There is no question of a compromise (on the autonomy issue) ....We will certainly take a political decision after the Chief Minister returns from Delhi his meeting with the Prime Minister," Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister P L Handoo told reporters after a crucial meeting of the party's working committee here that deferred a decision on its continuance in the NDA.

"No option is closed yet...We will continue honest efforts for a solution but the bottomline is autonomy. The deadline for this is less than six months," Handoo said in reply to a question whether the NC is trying to buy time to tide over immediate problems.

He said the Chief Minister on his return from Delhi would report to the working committee about his dialogue with Vajpayee and the future discussion in the policy making body will depend the "kind and quality" of the dialogue in the capital.

Asked whether the NC would pursue the demand for pre-1953 position, Handoo said: "We are committed to pursuing the resolution passed by the Assembly as it is. We are bound by the resolution of the Assembly."

Replying to a question about the perception that things were being delayed in the hope that the issue would die down, he said: "No, nothing will die down. You can take an assurance we are discussing it day after tomorrow (after the CM's return from Delhi)."

"Those who talk to us must keep in mind the resolution passed by the Assembly and take speedy and take effective and speedy implementation, he said.

He said the Centre had realised that they had been "wrong and unfair" by rejecting the resolution. Asked if he hoped the Centre would rectify its "mistake", Handoo replied in the affirmative.

Referring to the statement of BJP general secretary Venkaiah Naidu that pre-1953 position would not be discussed during the meeting between Vajpayee and Abdullah, he said: "I am sure he (Naidu) does not know the history of Kashmir."