Other States - Jammu & Kashmir

No going back on autonomy demand: Omar

By Shujaat Bukhari

SRINAGAR JUNE 24. The newly-elected president of the National Conference and Union Minister of State for External Affairs, Omar Abdullah, has ruled out putting forth fresh proposals to the Centre on the issue of autonomy. He said his party was clear on this and the report passed by the State Assembly could not be withdrawn.

Talking to The Hindu before flying to New Delhi, Mr. Abdullah said, "our demand does not match with the theory of devolution of powers''.

Rejecting the Union Minister of State for Home, I.D. Swami's suggestion that if the NC came with fresh proposals on the devolution of powers it could be considered, he said : "We have sent a report to them they summarily rejected and threw out of the window. We have told them what we want. Let them tell us what powers they will devolve to us. Why come back for fresh things?"

Mr. Abdullah insisted that the issue of autonomy would continue to be on the NC's agenda and there was no question of backtracking on that. He suggested that if there was a dialogue and if there was agreement, it was fine. If not then we would decide on the next course, he said. Even as he was pessimistic about the BJP-led Government taking any favourable view on the subject, he said "there will be a Government at the Centre which will favour us''.

Notwithstanding his father's continued aggressive posture vis-a-vis the Centre, Mr. Omar Abdullah, said "regardless of which Government there is in Jammu and Kashmir, it must have good relations with the Centre''.

Stating that his party had no problems with the NDA and would support A.P.J. Abdul Kalam's candidature for the President's post, he made it clear that the NC would fight elections against the BJP in the State.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Other States

News: Front Page | National | Southern States | Other States | International | Opinion | Business | Sport | Miscellaneous |
Advts: Classifieds | Employment | Obituary |

Stories in this Section

• No going back on autonomy demand: Omar
• Hearing in Iftikhar Geelani's case on July 2
• BJP announces J&K poll panel

Copyright © 2002, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu