JAMMU: The Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress is not in favor of the restoration of the pre1952 position to the State and has warned of “strong opposition” if any effort made in this regard to oblige the National Conference.
Pradesh Congress general secretary Mangat Ram Sharma has said that such promises are only possible after elections are held in the State and ‘when a political party comes to power.
“Giving such promises to people before elections is not in the national interest and we will oppose any such move,” he said while participating in far panel discussion on restoration of the pre1953 position on Zee television.
Mr. Sharma said Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao had given a “face-saving” excuse to the National Conference to enable them to participate in the elections in the form of a political package but the National Conference did not make use of the opportunity.
He said there was no “categorical commitment” by the Prime Minister about the political package and maintained that there would be no “stepping back.”
Mr, Sharma reiterated that the party would do only what is acceptable to the people of Jammu and Kashmir, “The main task is to maintain the unity of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh.”
Stating that nobody “has any right” to make such promises, Mr. Sharma said the main task was to make elections in the State possible and “it is also not possible to decide before the elections who would be the leader.”
He said it would be in the interests of the State to retain the nomenclature of the Governor and the Chief Minister. Participating in the discussion former State Bharatiya Janata Party president Chaman Lal Gupta criticized the political package and the autonomy. He warned that the BJP “would not tolerate any such move.” Nobody is talking about the 1953 position in Jammu and Ladakh and the process of the integration of the State with India should continue.”
He said the BJP was in favor of an ‘economic package. Former National Conference Mr. Shabir Ahmad Salaria said autonomy was important to retain the confidence of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
Article extracted from this publication >> November 24, 1995
