NEW DELHI: BJP member and former Jammu and Kashmir governor Mr. Jagmohan last week advised the government not to make any commitment on granting more autonomy to the state. Resuming the debate in the Lok Sabha on a statutory resolution on extension of President’s rule, Mr. Jagmohan said such a commitment at this juncture would create problems later. He also noted that the government should not view the holding of assembly elections in the state as an end; at best it could only be a means towards an end.
Without giving details, Mr. Jagmohan said besides the elections other corresponding action will have to be taken to restore normalcy in the state. He also cautioned the government against going overboard over Article 370 for according special status to Kashmir and said it had to be watchful of its adverse implications as well. He quoted Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru to point out that the first prime minister had categorically stated that Article 370 was an “unusual provision, which was by no means final.” Mr. Jagmohan also quoted from a letter of Pandit Nehru in 1962 which said whatever was left of Article 370 was gradually waning away. He also contended that while a rosy picture of the situation in Kashmir was being projected, the fact of the matter was that the situation in the state had actually worsened in 1995 and during the first four months of the current year. He reiterated that elections alone would not solve the problems and other corresponding measures to restructure the civil administration had to be taken. Those causing internal subversion had also to be eliminated, he stressed. He pointed out that the worst ever hostage crisis and the attack on the holy shrine had taken place during 1995 and this was demonstrative of the fact that the situation was certainly not as normal as it was being painted to be.
V.V. Raghavan (CPI) said the question of autonomy to Kashmir should not be discussed in isolation. G.M. Banatwala (IUML) said a civil government in Kashmir was a necessity so that the people run their own administration and also have control over the security forces. He said while he was sorry for the fact that the state was under presidential rule for over six years, he felt very happy that the common minimum program of the United Front government had brought about a new enthusiasm. Mangat Ram (Cong) said the then governor Mr. Jagmohan had committed a grave mistake by dissolving the state assembly, if the assembly had not been dissolved, a popular government could have come at the helm of affairs one or two years ago.
Article extracted from this publication >> July 17, 1996
