The Hindu : Gujral for 'greater autonomy' to J&K

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Sep 15, 2002

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Gujral for 'greater autonomy' to J&K

NEW DELHI SEPT. 14. The former Prime Minister, I.K. Gujral, today asked the Centre to first initiate the process of dialogue with political groups in Jammu and Kashmir on the quantum of autonomy and then resume talks with Pakistan for finding a permanent solution to the Kashmir tangle.

Inaugurating a national seminar on ``Kashmir imbroglio — a quest for equitable resolution'' here, he said the Government should take necessary steps to grant greater autonomy to the State.

However, it can negotiate on retaining the jurisdiction of the Election Commission, the Supreme Court and the Auditor-General.

He said autonomy got eroded gradually after 1953, when the Sheikh Abdullah Government was dismissed.

Mr. Gujral hailed the Election Commission's decision allowing foreign diplomats to monitor the elections in the State.

He said the Government should have also allowed international observers. These steps would have given greater credibility to the polls and exposed Pakistan's "nefarious designs" to derail the electoral process.

The seminar, was organised by the Association of People of Asia.

The former Lok Sabha Speaker, Rabi Ray, the Congress leader, Vasant Sathe, veteran Gandhian, Nirmala Deshpande, and representatives of the All- Party Hurriyat Conference and the Pandit community. — UNI

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