NEW DELHI: Greater autonomy for Jammu and Kashmir? The past record shows that it is merely a slogan often used by leaders in the Valley and outside for temporary gains. And again, it will only be a futile exercise when an all-party meeting here takes up the subject for discussion on July 8. IL is mainly because no national political party is prepared to spell the quantum of autonomy. The United Front has promised “the maximum autonomy” in its Common Minimum Program which is a vague assurance.

Home Minister Indrajit Gupta has. Done well to set the record straight.

He has said that the issue will be decided by the new State assembly. This has helped remove the confusion created by Defence Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav with his hurried observation that legislation was being brought in keeping with the UF assurance.

Two attempts have been made so far to define the quantum of autonomy. The first was on July 24, 1952, when an accord widely known as Delhi Agreement was reached between Sheikh Abdullah and the Central Government providing for the limited Central jurisdiction over the State. It went haywire in less than a year. Sheikh Abdullah was dismissed and arrested on August 9, 1953, as he began dreaming of an independent Kashmir. The other bid to define the quantum of autonomy was made in November last year, rather in a dramatic manner. In an unprecedented address to the nation from a little-known country, Burkino Faso, the then Prime Minister, P.V. Narasimha Rao, said the Government was prepared to change the nomenclatures of State Governor and Chief Minister to those of Sadare Riyasat and Wazir e Azam, respectively.

The concession was sought to be made to lure the National Conference to participate in the Lok Sabha polls. It boomeranged. The NC rejected the offer and it insisted on the restoration of the pre1953 dispensation which means the implementation of Delhi Agreement There is no change in the NC stand. It is unlikely that any political party will be able to endorse this. Narasimha Rao had almost set the clock back when he promised the restoration of the nomenclatures which were abolished by the Sadiq Government in the State on April 10, 1965.

Article extracted from this publication >>  July 10, 1996