SRINAGAR: The Union Home Minister, $.B.Chavan, has said that there is no case for the revival of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly as an option for a represent alive government.
In an interview in Srinagar, Chavan said that the original term of the dissolved Assembly is to be over soon and, “I think there is no case for revival,”
Chavan, who is on a three-day visit to the state, said the Center was against the prolonged continuation of President’s rule in JK and was keen on the formation of a “representative government,”
We are for elections, some elections to the local bodies and the State Assembly,” the minister said. Asked whether the Government preferred local bodies polls before the Assembly elections, he said, “I have to consult my colleagues in this regard. Such issues are put before the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs (CCPA).”
The Home Minister did not feel that holding of elections would escalate violence and worsen the situation in J-K. In Punjab also, similar apprehensions of increase in killings were expressed before the polls, he pointed out.
According to Chavan, the situation in Kashmir was much better than in Punjab. He said, “While the people in Punjab have been militant by nature, Kashmiris are docile and peace-loving by temperament,”
Chavan said there was among the public a “growing disenchantment with the designs of the (Pakistani) ISI, resentrnent against the atrocities indulged in by the militants and an urge for joining, the national mainstream.” “There is increasing realization that independence for Pakistan” is impossible, he added.
Asked about the demand by the former chief minister, Dr. Farooq Abdullah that the Center should define the quantum of autonomy for J-K, Chavan said “He is meeting me, Let me see now and with what emphasis he asks me the same.” Chavan said the Government did not consider any “special autonomy for J-K other than mooted by the Sarkaria Commission,”
Regarding the five recently released Kashmiri politicians, Chavan said releasing them so far has proved meaningful. “They are bound to speak the militant’s language initially, and they should be given some margin.”
Chavan said the Center was “was not in touch”, with the released leaders, He added that there were no moves for dialogue with any of the militant organizations.
He said the Center was contemplating constructive rehabilitation of misguided Kashmir youth, “We have found that engineers and other qualified persons were jobless. One proposal is to provide them jobs outside the state,” he said,
According to the Minister, there was a definite change towards improvement in the situation in Kashmir. The desire of the people and local officers for speeding up developmental works has increased, and they are openly demanding redressal of their day-today grievances through the official machinery, The lack of financial resources for self-employment projects due to the ban on bank loans is being looked into, Chavan stressed,
“What is needed to push to ease public aspirations by vigorous action by political parties.” Chavan said. He was of the opinion that the advisory councils at the state and district-levels would help the process.
The Home Minister said the “public has started to realize that militancy has shattered the economy and life.” “I do not think the militancy will draw public support for long,” he said.
Article extracted from this publication >> July 17, 1992
