BJP opposes proposal to grant autonomy to J-K
New Delhi/Kashmir: A Prime Minister appointed panel has recommended autonomy for Jammu and Kashmir but it has not pleased the Bharatiya Janata Party.
Arun Jaitley, a member of the Working Group, has written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh saying the last meeting that took place involving political parties was two years ago and that they were consulted when the report was prepared.
So opposition to the report on autonomy for J-K is gathering steam after Jaitley revealed details of a letter he sent to the Prime Minister on Thursday.
"Why over two years after the virtual abandonment of the Working Group, this report was unilaterally authored? What was the compulsion to by-pass the Working Group? I have an uneasy feeling the Government wants to show to sections of the international community that it is willing to dilute the Indian position on J-K," Jaitley wrote in his letter.
Jaitley's unease reflects the stress the report places on autonomy for J-K to the maximum extent possible and that could have crucial implications.
The recommendations include going back to the 1953 position when Kashmir had a Sadar-e-Riyasat instead of Governor and where the Centre only controlled defence, foreign policy and currency that implies that ties with the Indian federation would be minimal
Only the ruling National Conference has welcomed the report taking credit for the state Assembly resolution on autonomy passed eight years ago when Farooq Abdullah was chief minister.
The separatists are dismissive and the People's Democratic Party (PDP) saying it doesn't go far enough.
"Self rule is the ultimate document as far as we are concerned. The report takes care of one of the aspects of self rule. We need re-negotiation of water resources. There cannot be self-rule without self reliance. We expect the Prime Minister will look at Kashmir problem in totality," said PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti.
It's pretty clear the BJP will oppose any move to turn the clock back on J-K with sections of the Congress probably sharing the same sentiment.
So how much of autonomy would be acceptable is a challenge for the Centre.
(With inputs from Divyamanu Chaudhary and Mufti Islah)
BJP opposes proposal to grant autonomy to J-K