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'Autonomy' dialogue on hold; Kashmir panel meets Sonia

By Our Special Correspondent

New Delhi Aug. 31. The "autonomy'' dialogue between the Central Government and the Jammu and Kashmir Government has been grounded, at least for now. The Centre's designated "representative'' and former Union Law Minister, Arun Jaitley, was to travel this week to Srinagar to hold the third round of talks with G. M. Shah, senior-most Minister in the Farooq Abdullah Government. In the last round on August 9 in New Delhi, it was agreed that the interlocutors would meet next in Srinagar at the end of the month.

However, the Jammu and Kashmir Government is believed to have informed New Delhi that the "autonomy dialogue'' should be put on hold, till the Assembly elections are out of the way. The ostensible reason for putting the talks on hold is that the National Conference leadership, including Mr. Shah himself, is fully engaged in the coming elections, and could not be expected to allow itself to be distracted by the "autonomy'' talks.

The National Conference leadership, nonetheless, is reported to be cut up with the Centre for "entertaining" separatists such as Shabir Shah of the Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Freedom Party or those associated with the All-Party Hurriyat Conference. The Kashmir Committee, headed by Ram Jethmalani, held another round of talks with Mr. Shah this week here, and next week a Hurriyat delegation is expected to engage the Jethmalani panel.

The Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Farooq Abdullah, has publicly ridiculed Mr. Jethmalani's efforts. But in particular, the Abdullah Government did not take kindly to the Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee's reported assurance to Mr. Jethmalani that the "dialogue'' with the separatists could continue even after the Assembly elections.

The National Conference leadership also feels that at a time when it is trying to position itself as an antagonist against the Bharatiya Janata Party, there is not much political mileage in being seen holding a dialogue with a Central "representative'' who also happens to be the BJP's public face. In any case, the "autonomy'' card has not generated the kind of excitement the National Conference leadership had hoped for.

Meanwhile, the Kashmir Committee had an hour-long interaction with senior leaders of the Congress, including the party president, Sonia Gandhi, Manmohan Singh, Natwar Singh and Pranab Mukherjee. Mr. Jethmalani and his colleagues told the Congress leadership of the nature of discussions they had had so far with the Kashmiri leaders. While reportedly blessing the panel's efforts, the Congress leadership was keen on knowing how the committee's labours would be of help in the current context of the Assembly poll.

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