NEWSLINKS
US EDITION
COLUMNISTS
DIARY
SPECIALS
INTERVIEWS
CAPITAL BUZZ
REDIFF POLL
DEAR REDIFF
THE STATES
YEH HAI INDIA!
ELECTION 99
ELECTIONS
ARCHIVES

Search Rediff

BJP, Congress dismayed by adoption of autonomy report

Tara Shankar Sahay in New Delhi

The Bharatiya Janata Party today strongly opposed the adoption of the autonomy resolution by the Jammu and Kashmir assembly, underscoring that the party could never accept the pre-1953 status of the sensitive border state.

"The adoption of the resolution is unprecedented and unfortunate. It is a challenge to the Indian Union. All parties must assert themselves for the unity and integrity of the country," said BJP vice-president Jagdish Prasad Mathur.

"I don't know what transpired during the recent discussions between Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah. But if the chief minister told the prime minister that he would not persist with the autonomy issue, today's development is a betrayal of the trust," Mathur said.

"I don't want to be drawn into a controversy whether autonomy will pave the way for secession. Vajpayee will handle the matter when he returns from his foreign trip," he said.

Mathur had earlier told rediff.com that according to his information, Vajpayee had given a piece of his mind to Dr Abdullah. After which Dr Abdullah had categorically said the issue would not be raked up again.

Union Home Minister Lal Kishenchand Advani had already stated last week that the Vajpayee government was willing to discuss the issue with the parties concerned provided it was within the framework of the Indian Constitution.

"This is our position and Advaniji can only reiterate this because the first and foremost thing is that India's unity and integrity cannot be bartered for any state's autonomy," Mathur said.

A BJP general secretary, not wishing to be identified, pointed out that despite Abdullah promising to the prime minister not to rake up the autonomy issue, "pressing political compulsions probably made him go back on his word". The BJP leader said the All-Parties Hurriyat Conference had virtually challenged Dr Abdullah's locus standi in Kashmir's politics, thereby posing a grave political problem. Hence Dr Abdullah has sought to distract attention by raising the autonomy issue.

He contended that if Dr Abdullah was preparing the ground to make autonomy an electoral issue, "We will raise the vital question of the country's unity and integrity which will be undermined if unwarranted concessions are made to the states."

Agencies add: Congress spokesman Anand Sharma described the state assembly's decision as "unfortunate" and said party president Sonia Gandhi had appointed a committee headed by Pranab Mukherjee to finalise its stand on the resolution.

The Communist Party of India, however, asked the Centre to take a "meaningful initiative" to discuss autonomy and its quantum. "CPI is not in agreement with the BJP's harsh stand not to discuss the question of autonomy at all," CPI secretary D Raja said.

Former prime minister Chandra Shekhar described the development as "unfortunate" and said it would aggravate militancy.

APHC leader Sheikh Abdul Rashid said "autonomy or division is not acceptable to Kashmir as the solution lies in tripartite talks among India, Pakistan and representatives of Kashmir".

RELATED REPORTS
J&K assembly adopts autonomy report
Implications of autonomy

Back to top

Tell us what you think of this report