NEW DELHI: Home Minister SB Chavan has rejected the BJP suggestions that granting of more autonomy to Jammu and Kashmir would evoke an adverse reaction in other parts of the country. “Let it be known that the people of Jammu and Kashmir acceded to India after they were assured of a special status within the Indian Union and I do not think now we can go back on it unless the people of the State wanted otherwise.” Chavan said in an interview. ‘The Home Minister was responding to the criticism of BJP president LK dvani that Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao’s announcement about giving some sort of azadi to. people of Kashmir would have an adverse effect on the unity of the country and his party would make the issue as a major election plank in the next Lok Sabha polls: “it might be their thinking. It would not evoke adverse reaction. We do not agree with the BJP view,” he said.
Asked about what are the Government’s plans for holding elections in Jammu and Kashmir, the Home Minister said that it was for the Chief Election Commissioner to decide whether conditions were right for holding polls. “As far as I am concerned there will been problem.”. Agreeing with the view that the present situation in the Kashmir Valley and the one that prevailed in Punjab before the Assembly elections there was different, Chavan felt that elections in the Valley would certainly change the scenario for the better. From Tinsukia, BJP President L.K. Advani has said Article 370 envisaging special status to Jammu and Kashmir should be scrapped and this would be made an issue by the party in the next elations Addressing a public meeting on Saturday, Advani said the article was discriminatory and would be opposed by the party.
Article extracted from this publication >> June 23, 1995
