JAMMU: The major political party of Jammu and Kashmir, National Conference, has decided not to participate in the proposed Lok Sabha elections in the state,
Announcing the much awaited decision of the party here at a crowded press conference, National Conference president Farooq Abdullah said that the Working Committee of the party had decided not to participate in the proposed elections as the situation was not conducive for the purpose in the state. ‘The party chief, however, clarified that the decision not to participate in the exercise was in no way linked to the party’s demand for greater autonomy to the state but taking into account the prevailing ground realities.
He also stated that it was not a boycott of the elections as party sympathizers and workers were free to decide whether to participate in the elections or not, “We leave it to them,” Abdullah replied when asked about his message for his party workers in the state Meanwhile, according to sources the party has formed a five member committee to hold talks with the Center on ‘various issues concerning Jammu and Kashmir, The committee would have representatives from all the three regions of the state Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh. Abdullah did not announce names of members of the committee but said it would be headed by its convener.
The committee, Abdullah said, would deliberate on various issues, including restoration of pre 1953 position to the state, with the Center, ‘The decision of the party not to joint elections has come in the wake of the three day brainstorming session of the Working Committee meeting held here under the chairmanship of Farooq Abdullah. For first two days of the meeting, party leaders up to the block level expressed their views on the subject and the final decision was taken on the last day after discussions, Dispelling the impression that there ‘was divergence of opinion Abdullah said that the decision was “unanimous.”
National Conference chief said that there was need to understand and respect the urges and aspirations of the three regions of the stale, without that, any election exercise would not be meaningful, he said.
He said the Center’s failure to ac cede to his party’s demand for greater autonomy to the state was not the reason behind the decision. The decision, he said, was based on the prevailing ground realities in the state, However, the grant of autonomy might have had helped improve the ground Situation paving way for his party to Participate in the elections, he added.
Article extracted from this publication >> April 3, 1996
