J&K Assembly session on autonomy begins today

By Shujaat Bukhari

SRINAGAR, JUNE 18. Amid tight security arrangements, the special session of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly begins here tomorrow to deliberate on the issue of greater autonomy to the State in the light of State Autonomy Committee (SAC) report, which has been cleared by the Cabinet.

The ruling National Conference's Legislature Party met here on Saturday evening while erstwhile members of the SAC held a detailed meeting today to devise floor strategy.

All eyes are set on the session with the NC boasting it would fulfil its promise on the restoration of autonomy. But the Opposition is critical of the decision to hold the session, saying, ``It is meant to divert attention from its failures.'' The separatist camp has rejected the autonomy theory, stressing on tripartite talks to hammer out a lasting solution.

The NC, which has 62 members in 87-member house (three seats are vacant), on Saturday convened a meeting of its MLAs and MLCs, which was presided by the party president and Chief Minister, Dr. Farooq Abdullah. The party discussed the issue threadbare and also the line to be adopted in the House, concluding that ``autonomy was the only answer to the present imbroglio''.

The members of the SAC, who drafted the report which has been sent to the Centre, met today, with the committee chairman, Mr. Mohiuddin Shah, in the chair.

After the meeting, the NC leader, Mr. Abdur Raheem Rather, said, ``We discussed the developments which took place after the report was tabled in the Assembly in March last.'' He added that the session was a step towards ``our objective''.

Along with the BJP, which has always opposed any move for autonomy, the Congress(I) has also made it clear that it would oppose the demand tooth and nail. The decision was taken by the AICC(I) president, Ms. Sonia Gandhi, who overruled the PCC(I) chief.

The BJP has seven members in the House and the Congress(I) five. The two parties will be joined by a member each from the Panther's Party and the Janata Dal.

The State BJP leader, Mr. Abdur Rasheed Kabuli, said, ``Whenever the NC becomes weak, it raises the autonomy issue.''

The four members of the Bahujan Samaj Party and the lone member of the CPI(M) have supported the demand. The People's Democratic Party (PDP), which has two members, has not made its stand clear.

The PDP president, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, accused the NC of sabotaging the dialogue process which the Centre had initiated with Hurriyat leaders.

Though there is no enthusiasm among the separatists on the move, they are concerned as the demand for autonomy, if given legitimacy by the Legislature, may dilute their stand to a great extent. The Hurriyat Conference chairman, Syed Ali Shah Geelani, who has been a member of the Assembly for three terms, said, ``The session is of no significance as it does not represent the people.''

In view of the recent militant attacks, security in and around the Raj Garh lawns, where the Assembly is situated, have been increased. A senior police official said a three-ring security had been planned to prevent any militant attack during the week- long session. High-rise buildings in the nearby localities which have been used by militants to fire rocket grenades have also been occupied by security forces. Roads leading to the Assembly will also be closed for the period the House is in session.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Front Page
Previous : Laloo blames it on BJP-RSS-Ranvir Sena nexus
Next     : LTTE to be kept out of interim council