NEW DELHI: The National Conference chief, Dr. Farooq Abdullah, has denied that he had backtracked on his commitment to the Prime Minister on participating in the proposed Assembly elections in the State. Not at all I do not know why this false impression is being created by the Press, The truth is that the package offered by the Prime Minister was not acceptable to the National Conference because it falls far short of the aspirations of the people of Jammu and ‘Kashmir.” he said.
The 60year old former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir said the center’s package for Jammu and Kashmir, also did not meet the requirements of the existing ground realities. There is no question of backing out from my commitment; one has to be realistic in such cases. We cannot go ‘before the people with something in our hands about which we are not ourselves convinced.” he said in an Interview.
Dr. Abdullah said, “It was not a question of bargaining, we have taken his position after careful thinking. It is not an impulsive decision. Our approach is guided by a long range perspective. He said it was totally wrong to believe that he had accepted the Government package as it is, “We have politely explained why it was not acceptable to us.”
Dr. Abdullah disagreed with the view expressed in certain quarters that he had lost grip over the National Conference, and it was now in the control of hardliners.
“No, there are no hardliners, there are no soft-liners, there are no middle liners in our party, I am sure the party decision was unanimous.”
Stating that his party was not against elections, Dr. Abdullah said, he felt that in the present circumstances, the question of autonomy needed to be settled before one could expect the people in Kashmir to take part in the elections. Dr. Abdullah said the reason why he was insisting on these issues being settled before the elections was because of their bitter experiences in the past. “Lois of promises and assurances in the past has been broken. My people will think lama fool if repeat the old mistake of taking everything at face value. Some credible guarantee is absolutely necessary,” he said.
He said the State had full-fledged autonomy which was eroded through. Presidential decree and Parliamentary action, “We want them to give us back the autonomy. Why should there be any objection to our stand?” he asked.
Article extracted from this publication >> December 1, 1995
