National
Gujral calls for internal dialogue
By Our Special Correspondent
NEW DELHI, JAN. 16. The former Prime Minister, Inder Kumar Gujral, has advised the Centre to start an internal dialogue in Jammu and Kashmir before the Assembly elections later this year. ``All of us should realise that the status quo cannot be sustained indefinitely.''
In a statement, Mr. Gujral laments that the K. C. Pant mission has turned out to be a non-starter. If this mission cannot be revived ``other avenues should be opened with the help of political parties and others, within the State and in the rest of the country.'' The question of autonomy for Jammu and Kashmir has to addressed once again and with sincerity, Mr. Gujral says. Otherwise the electoral process, scheduled for late October, would be taking place ``in a vacuum.'' And such an exercise ``can have undesirable consequences, which would be a gift for anyone who may wish to exploit them.''
The former Prime Minister argues that ``the prospects for autonomy for the State within the Indian Union and for the regions for the state within the state should be clarified before elections overtake the quieter exploration which the issue needs.''
Expressing the hope that necessary steps are being taken to honour the Prime Minister's commitment that Jammu and Kashmir would have free and fair elections, Mr. Gujral suggests that ``perhaps the civil society leaders in all three regions of the State could themselves prepare a list of those Indians whom they may wish to invite on their own to observe the elections.''
Send this article to Friends by
E-Mail
National
|
