NEW DELHI: Union Home Minister Indrajit Gupta has ruled out the possibility of introducing a Bill in the current session of the Lok Sabha for granting “maximum autonomy” to Jammu and Kashmir, Only a day after taking over his new assignment, Mr, Gupta’s statement on Jammu and Kashmir summarily contradicts the view of Defence Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav who had stated that a bill on autonomy to the state would be introduced in the current session of the Lok Sabha. Mr. Gupta said that the shape of the autonomy would be determined by the assembly of Jammu and Kashmir.

In Mr. Gupta’s view, the autonomy was necessary to keep J and K within the Indian union. He however made it clear that there would be no attempt to impose the autonomy on the state from the center. By implication, Mr. Gupta has categorically repudiated Mr. Yadav’s statement on the J and K issue and deferred the whole controversy till the assembly elections in the state. He said the question of autonomy would be discussed and debated in the assembly which would go to polls shortly.

Apparently, Mr. Gupta’s statement is calculated to bail out the united front Government which was under severe pressure from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to spell out its position on the autonomy. The statement while staying off the controversy arising out of Mr. Yadav’s impromptu statement has also dangled a carrot of autonomy to J&K without giving any time frame.

Interestingly, Mr. Gupta disclose’ that the Union Government was favor of extending the President” Tule in the state for further six months. Mr, Gupta said there was: no intention to postpone elections in Kashmir and it would be held as soon as possible with the consultation of the Election Commission. The Home Minister said it was important to hold the elections in as free and fair a manner as possible, “considering what has panned in the past. Once the elections are Over it is for the Kashmir Assembly to discuss and debate the question of autonomy we wish to prove that Kashmir is not being held down by, the power of the gun as Pakistan has been trying to project to the world.”

 

Article extracted from this publication >>  July 3, 1996