NEW DELHI: In a politically significant move, the National Conference demanded that the center open a dialogue with the JKLF and other militant organizations and “restore”. The autonomy enjoyed by Jammu and Kashmir prior to 1952.
The demand was made by Saifuddin Soz, leader of the parliamentary party of National Conference, which was the state’s ruling party till last month.
“Leaders of all political hues should be involved in the dialogue” Soz told reporters in the country’s capital of New Delhi.
The autonomy Soz was referring to was prior to that of signing of Delhi agreement of July 24, 1952 under which the federal government was retaining only defense, foreign affairs, communication and currency, leaving the rest to the state.
Soz said there could not be any political dialogue without the participation by various factions of the militants including the JKLF.
He has suggested that for such a dialogue the center use the same emissaries who were used for securing the release of federal home minister’s daughter from captivity. Soz said though there were elements within the militants who were demanding independence, there was a large section of them who were moderates whose achievable goal, according to him, was “‘restoring the state pre-52 position.”
Article extracted from this publication >> March 2, 1990
