NEW DEHLI: Although prime minister P.V Narasimha Rao finds that things a removing too slow on the Kashmir front he is faced with a lack of options on — how to push the peace process in the strife-tom Valley any further.

That a Prime Minister who prefers to postpone decisions and likes to let problems work themselves out finds things moving too slowly is an indication of how stalled the progress On resolving the Kashmir imbroglio actually is. Sources in the Prime Minister’s Office claim however that Rao is optimistic about bringing a turnaround in the border State by the end of the year.

Nonetheless there are several Speed-breakers facing the Prime Ministers Kashmir policy at present.

The Prime Minister is in favor of elections this winter for that he wants former Chief Minister Farook Abdullah to go the Valley activate his cadres and get the political process rolling. Dr. Abdullah however wants a political package guaranteeing some autonomy for the State.

Rao will not give that till elections are held and talks take place between the Center and a State government. Dr Abdullah admitted that he is not getting anything for his bold attempts to return to Kashmir in the face of genuine danger from pro-Pakistan militant groups has gone off to London and postponed his return causing the Government much worry. When there are the Hurriyat leaders the Prime Minister encouraged by the visit by leaders Of the All Party Hurriyat Conference to Delhi in April wants to release detained leaders Syed Ali Shah Gilani and Abdul Gani Lone He also wants the release of Peoples League Chairman Shabbir Ahmed Shah popularly known as the Nelson Mandela of the Val ley. The leaders don’t want to be released however: they have reportedly been frightened by the June 20 assassination of religious leader Qazi Nissar Ahmed as well as two murderous although unsuccessful attacks on JKLF president Yasin Malik since his release in May. With the people of Kashmir seeming to tire of the past five years of violence and with Dr. Farooq Abdullah’s National Conference becoming on the horizon to take advantage of the change in the atmosphere the Humiyat leaders are reportedly not averse to participating in a peace process in the Valley.

Yet Qazi Nissars murder as well as the two attempts on Malik has apparently shaken them up and made them realize that they are Still vulnerable targets for the anti  peace militants On top of this the detainees have reportedly told the Government that it should set the stage for meaningful political activity before it releases them. But what the leaders mean by this is not altogether clear.

With the people who would play a part in the political process unwilling at the moment to do anything there Is nothing that Rao can do but   He had already given an economic package In April and is loathe (6 give anything more for another year (We can’t give them money every day said a source)

There is one more potential problem that faces Mr. Rao: the refusal by Chief Election Commissioner? N. Seshan to accept the delimitation of J&K Assembly constituencies announced by the State Government in 1992 The delimitation was done by a

Commission headed by a State high Court Justice in which the members of constituencies were raised from 76 to 88. Mr. Seshan did not accept the delimitation because he did not attend any of the meetings of the Commission. The reason As Mr Seshan saw it the CEC has the status of a Supreme Court judge while the Commission was headed by an HC justice The delimitation cannot be undone as it would require an amendment of the State Constitution that can only be done by the State Assembly which would come into existence only after polls

The Prime Minister’s Office feels that legally Seshan has no choice but to accept the delimitation. Yet they do not want a confrontation with him on this issue of national importance. And although they are yet to Sit with him they hope he will provide no obstacles to polls whenever they are eventually held.

Article extracted from this publication >> July 15, 1994